Incident Commander: Cody Montgomery
9/4/22 Boulder Mountain Fire Update
Boulder Mountain Fire
For Immediate Release - September 4rd, 2022

Quick Facts
Boulder Mountain Fire
Approximate Size 1400 acres
Containment 0%
Total Personnel 107
Fire Danger Very High
Structures Lost
Primary – 0
Secondary - 0


The Boulder Mountain Fire started by lightning on Wednesday August 31, 2022 at approximately 8:30 pm. The fire is located in the Tacoma Creek and Boulder Mountain area 9 miles Northwest of Cusick, Washington. The fire is burning on Federal, State and Private land. The terrain is difficult and the fire is burning in heavy timber, slash, and beetle infested trees.

Yesterday: The fire was still very active during the day and overnight due to low humidity recoveries. This allowed for group torching, flanking, and backing. Access from the ground continues to be a challenge. Aircraft has been the primary fire suppression tactic to date. Crews continued to scout the area to make access to the fire from the ground. Dozers worked to shore up roads, create additional access, and assist firefighters on the ground where necessary. Due to the active fire behavior the fire has grown to an estimated 1400 acres. The weather event that moved through the area did not create any significant challenges for firefighters.

Today: Firefighters will continue their work with dozers and other heavy equipment to get containment lines in and work on primary and secondary ingress and egress points. That work consists of chipping and masticating to create a better road system. Aircraft will continue to be utilized as needed. The fire will continue to be active with torching, backing and moving into slash. Additional resources have been ordered and over the last few days have showed up and are being assigned to different divisions of the fire.

Weather: A warm and dry weather pattern will establish across the area after the disturbances on Saturday. This will continue through much of the week. Light terrain winds, moderate inversions, and poor relative humidity recovery at night will maintain active fire behavior.

Transition: The Type 2 Incident Management Team has been briefed and they will officially take the fire over at 06:00 tomorrow morning. The team is in place and have been briefed on strategy and tactics to date. This transition is expected to be smooth and seamless. The team brings additional overhead and access to resources due to the high priority of the fire.

Please continue to check the following sites for updated evacuation notices and campground closures. For campgrounds you can go to dnr.wa.gov and find up to date evacuation notices at: https://pendoreilleco.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Boulder-Mountain-Fire-Level-3-Evacuation-Area.pdf

Firefighter and public safety are the highest priority. We ask that the public adhere to the notices and closures that have been put in place. Firefighters will continue their work in the Tacoma Creek and Boulder Mountain area. Please stay clear of that area.

Fire information and the Incident Command Post is located at the Kalispel Pow Wow Grounds in Usk, WA. Fire information contact is Don Malone at (509) 822-8125 or you can also follow us on Facebook @NEWIMT3

Public Meeting – Friday, September 16th, 7:00 PM  - Noxon Volunteer Fire Department

Bull Gin Complex Fires

Government Fire : 2,348 acres; 0% contained

Billiard Fire: 1,119 acres; 3% contained

Isabella Lake Fire: 280 acres; 0% contained

The Bull Gin Complex is currently 3,747 acres. Updated acreage, provided from an infrared flight, confirmed minimal growth across the complex over the last two days. Smoky conditions, high humidity, and a wetting rain significantly tempered fire activity.

Government Fire: Firefighter and heavy equipment efforts are focused on removal of slash generated from line construction. Hand crews are using chippers to disperse large amounts of small fuels and masticators are delimbing and grinding fuels along the Rock Creek Road and within the 2763 road system. The Helena Hotshots and engine crews patrol, monitor, and secure the west side where fire has reached control lines and there is a high frequency of snags and other burning material rolling across the line. In the northwest, Government Creek is providing a natural control line. Night operations patrol and monitor the southern portion of the fire. The Rock Lake Fire is controlled and in patrol status.

Billiard Fire: Firefighters achieved containment on the west side of the fire, north of Fatman Saddle where they have been successful in extinguishing areas of heat working 30 to 60 feet interior from the control line. To the north of the containment, the Aravaipa Hotshots are removing dead and fire weakened trees that pose a hazard along constructed handline. Crews and heavy equipment continue line construction to the south in the 2293 road system and Fatman Road as well as to the west along the Blue Creek Road. Engines patrol structures in Blue Creek, Blue Creek Bay, Hillside Lane, and Fatman Road.

Isabella Lake Fire: The fire remains unstaffed and monitored.

Evacuations: On September 8th the Sanders County Sheriff’s Office placed the residents along Government Mountain Road and Timber Ridge Road into pre-evacuation status. Please sign up for Sanders County Emergency Alerts at 406-203-0082 to stay informed on the status of emergency conditions.

Closures: The Billiard Fire Area, Road, and Trail Closure has been reduced. Government Mountain Road and Rock Creek Road are closed to the public. The Noxon Refuse Site remains open during regular hours. Area, road, and trail closures are in place for the Government, Billiard, and Isabella Lake Fires to provide for public safety and firefighting operations. See Inciweb for maps and closure descriptions.

Weather: Partly cloudy with temperatures in the low to mid 60’s and southwest winds 8 to 12 mph with gusts up to 18 mph on the ridgetops.

Public Meeting – Friday, September 16th, 7:00 PM, Noxon Volunteer Fire Department

The Bull Gin Complex is currently 3,673 acres and 0% contained.

Government Fire: 2,284 (NE of Noxon, MT)

Billiard Fire: 1,112 acres (NE of Heron, MT)

Isabella Lake Fire: 277 acres (Cabinet Mountains Wilderness)

The Bull Gin Complex received a wetting rain across the fire complex significantly reducing fire activity yesterday. Rain affected road conditions limiting travel and use of heavy equipment until early afternoon. Once conditions cleared, Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) modules collected aerial observations and infrared assessments to support on-the-ground firefighting efforts. Firefighters observed little to no growth of the fire yesterday.

Government Fire: The fire area received less than a quarter inch of rain. Firefighters and heavy equipment continue fuel removal along the 150 road in the Rock Creek drainage. To the southeast, hand crews utilize chippers to reduce slash from check lines within the 2763 road system. Firefighters will patrol, monitor, and secure control lines to the west and southwest. In the northwest, the fire is holding along Government Creek. Today, crews and heavy equipment will continue mastication and chipping of heavy fuels along on the 150 road in Rock Creek area. Night operations patrolled the Government Creek Road and southern dozer line. The Rock Lake Fire is controlled and in patrol status.

Billiard Fire: Over a quarter inch of rain substantially reduced fire activity. Where fire has reached control lines on the west side from Fatman saddle north, hand crews are “mopping up” or extinguishing areas of heat working 30 to 60 feet interior from the control line. Hand crews and heavy equipment are constructing additional check line at the top of the 2293 road system. Mastication and fuel removal will continue along Fatman Road. Engines will patrol structures in Blue Creek, Blue Creek Bay, Hillside Lane, and Fatman Road.

Isabella Lake Fire: The fire remains unstaffed and monitored.

Evacuations: On September 8th the Sanders County Sheriff’s Office placed the residents along Government Mountain Road and Timber Ridge Road into pre-evacuation status. Please sign up for Sanders County Emergency Alerts at 406-203-0082 to stay informed on the status of emergency conditions.

Closures: Government Mountain Road and the Rock Creek Road are closed to the public. Access is limited to residents and fire personnel only. The Noxon Refuse Site is open regular hours. Area, road, and trail closures are in place for the Government, Billiard, and Isabella Lake Fires to provide for public safety and firefighting operations. See Inciweb for maps and closure descriptions.

Weather: Temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees with light and variable winds from the west. Outlook is dry and partly cloudy with a slight chance of showers in afternoon. 

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The Bull Gin Complex is currently 3,673 acres and 0% contained.

Government Fire: 2,284 acres (NE of Noxon, MT)

Billiard Fire: 1,112 acres (NE of Heron, MT)

Isabella Lake Fire: 277 acres (Cabinet Mountains Wilderness)

Yesterday’s operations were supported by an Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) module, which can fly in low visibility conditions, collect valuable visual observations, and conduct aerial firing. An infrared flight at 11 PM last night showed minimal growth of the past two days. Please adhere to reduced speeds posted on Highway 200.

Government Fire: The fire perimeter has grown slowly to the north, and towards control lines to the south and east. Yesterday, firefighters and engine crews successfully held control line on the west side, using available water resources and mitigating trees as they fell across the fireline. Firing operations were implemented to remove unburnt fuel between the control line and fire edge in the Government Creek area with both aerial and on-the-ground resources. The southwest edge of the fire slowly backed down to the dozer line. Crews and heavy equipment will continue mastication and chipping along on the 150 road in Rock Creek area, removing heavy fuels from the east side of the road. Night operations consisting of engines and a firefighting module patrolled Government Creek Road and the southern control line. The Rock Lake Fire perimeter is secure; firefighters will backhaul unneeded equipment and check on interior smokes.

Billiard Fire: Smoky conditions moderated fire activity over the last two days. Yesterday, firefighters held control line along the western edge of the fire and began working interior to further secure the line. Heavy equipment continued fuel removal efforts along Fatman Road. Hand crews and heavy equipment will remove slash on the 2293 road and begin constructing dozer line from top of the 2293 road down slope to Fatman Road. Water systems are in place for all structures along Blue Creek, Blue Creek Bay, Hillside Lane, and Fatman Road.

Isabella Lake Fire: The fire remains unstaffed and monitored.

Evacuations: On September 8th the Sanders County Sheriff’s Office placed the residents along Government Mountain Road and Timber Ridge Road into pre-evacuation status. Please sign up for Sanders County Emergency Alerts at 406-203-0082 to stay informed on the status of emergency conditions.

Closures: Government Mountain Road and the Rock Creek Road are closed to the public. Access is limited to residents and fire personnel only. Area, road, and trail closures are in place for the Government, Billiard, and Isabella Lake Fires to provide for public safety and firefighting operations. See Inciweb for maps and closure descriptions.

Weather: Cooler temperatures in the mid-60s and showers are expected mid-day with accumulation variable across the fires. Light and variable winds are expected. Smoke and visibility should improve after the rain moves through the area.  ###

The Sanders County Sheriff closed the Government Mountain Road and the Rock Creek Road. The roads remain open to residents and fire personnel only. For status of emergency conditions, please sign up for Sanders County Emergency Alerts at 406-203-0082.

The Bull Gin Complex is currently 3,047 acres and 0% contained.

Government Fire: 1,791 acres (NE of Noxon, MT)

Billiard Fire:  992 acres (NE of Heron, MT)

Isabella Lake Fire: 264 acres (Cabinet Mountains Wilderness)

While firefighters observed minimal growth on the fires yesterday, aircraft was unable to fly due to smoky conditions and low visibility. Smoke from local fires and fires to the west will remain close to the ground today limiting visibility. Please adhere to reduced speeds along the highways.

Government Fire: On the west side of the fire, in the Government Creek area, the fire slowly burned to the control lines, allowing firefighters to clear trees as they fall over the control line and utilize water to cool the fire’s edge. On the east side, heavy equipment crews work towards each other from the north and south, to connect a fuel break along the Rock Creek drainage. Masticators are mulching vegetation along the control lines to reduce fuels along the east side of the line. Crews will complete installation of hose lays north of residences and south of the fire from Government Mountain Road to Rock Creek Roads today. Removal of fuels by heavy equipment and handcrews on road 2763 is complete on the west side of the road, creating a check-line, to reduce fire heat and intensity as the fire moves south. Chippers will reduce the fuel loads along the east side of road 2763.

Heat remains interior on the three-acre Rock Lake Fire. The perimeter is secure and firefighters will begin to remove water handling systems.

Billiard Fire: Firefighters successfully implemented small firing operations along the 2290 road to consume fuels between the control line and the main fire. Crews quickly extinguished small spot fires that appeared on the northwest side of the fire. A dozer opened the 2293 road to serve as a check-line as the fire moved south. Water systems including hoses, sprinklers, pumps, and portable water tanks are in place for all structures along Blue Creek, Blue Creek Bay, Hillside Lane, and Fatman Road.

Isabella Lake Fire: The fire remains unstaffed and monitored.

Evacuations: On September 8th the Sanders County Sheriff’s Office placed the residents along Government Mountain Road and Timber Ridge Road into pre-evacuation status. Please sign up for Sanders County Emergency Alerts at 406-203-0082 to stay informed on the status of emergency conditions.

Closures: Area, road, and trail closures are in place for the Government, Billiard, and Isabella Lake Fires to provide for public safety and firefighting operations. See Inciweb for maps and closure descriptions.

Weather: Temperatures in the low-70s, mostly cloudy and smoky with light southwest winds on the ridgetop. Chance of rain this evening.

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The Bull Gin Complex is currently 3,047 acres and 0% contained.

Government Fire: 1,791 acres (NE of Noxon, MT)

Billiard Fire:  992 acres (NE of Heron, MT)

Isabella Lake Fire: 264 acres (Cabinet Mountains Wilderness)

Expect another smoke-filled day as smoke from fires to the west and local fires settles over the area. Visibility will be significantly reduced; please adhere to lowered speeds along the highways. Temperatures and fire activity will be moderated by smoke in the area.

Government Fire: Fire growth occurred on the north, east, and south sides of the fire later in the evening with the most active burning taking place from 6:00 PM and early morning. Handcrews, engines, and skidgines successfully held the fire at control lines on the west side in the Government Creek area; mitigating trees falling over the control line and utilizing water to cool the fire’s edge. On the east side, as the fire approaches the Rock Creek drainage, vegetation removal along control lines is ongoing as firefighters and heavy equipment reduce the fuels along the road system. Construction of the dozer line to the south of the fire and north of residences on Government Mountain Road is complete. Handcrews will clean up the dozer line removing snags and other fuels as necessary and install hose lays to ensure water is available on the line. Heavy equipment, followed by handcrews are clearing road 2763 of fuels to create a check-line, a temporary fireline used to regulate fire heat and intensity as the fire continues to slowly move south. Night operations are in place with engines monitoring fire spread to the south and attending to trees that fall over the control line on the west end of the fire.

Firefighters on the three-acre fire Rock Lake Fire will ensure the perimeter is secure and there are no areas of heat near the fire edge.

Billiard Fire: The northwest side of the fire is holding along constructed dozer and handline near the 2290 road, northeast of Fatman Mountain. Firefighters will use small firing operations to consume fuels between the control line and the main fire to square off the fire’s edge as the fire reaches the line near Fatman Saddle. Water systems including hoses, sprinklers, pumps, and portable water tanks are in place for all structures along Blue Creek, Blue Creek Bay, Hillside Lane, and Fatman Road.

Isabella Lake Fire: The fire remains unstaffed and monitored from the air. Minimal growth of approximately nine acres occurred yesterday.

Evacuations: On September 8th the Sanders County Sheriff’s Office placed the residents along Government Mountain Road and Timber Ridge Road into pre-evacuation status. Please sign up for Sanders County Emergency Alerts at 406-203-0082 to stay informed on the status of emergency conditions.

Closures: Area, road, and trail closures are in place for the Government, Billiard, and Isabella Lake Fires to provide for public safety and firefighting operations. See Inciweb for maps and closure descriptions.

Weather: Temperatures in the mid-70s with relatively light winds (4 to 8 mph) out of the east along the ridgetops.     

The Bull Gin Complex is currently 2,696 acres and 0% contained.

Government Fire: 1,499 acres (NE of Noxon, MT)

Billiard Fire: 942 acres (NE of Heron, MT)

Isabella Lake Fire: 255 acres (Cabinet Mountains Wilderness)

All three fires are burning in areas with steep rugged terrain, dense trees, and thick fuels. Fire weakened trees and burning snags are falling interior and along the fires’ edges. Firefighters have been constructing control lines near and along road systems to create areas they can safely engage the fire with a higher probability of success of containment.

Government Fire: Firefighters on the west side, in the Government Creek area, are holding the fire at control lines which include dozer line and roads cleared of vegetation. Scouting for potential firelines between Government Creek and Soldier Creek are ongoing. As heavy equipment completes dozer line construction to the south of the fire and north of residences on Government Mountain Road, hand crews will begin to install hose lays to ensure water is available on the line. On the east side, in Rock Creek, firefighters are clearing vegetation along the road from Timber Ridge Road north to the Rock Lake Trailhead. Heavy equipment, followed by hand crews will begin to open and clear road 2763 of fuels to create a check-line, a temporary fireline used to regulate fire heat and intensity. Night operations are in place with engines monitoring fire spread on the southern portion of the fire.

Firefighters on the three-acre fire Rock Lake Fire will continue to secure the perimeter by extinguishing areas of remaining heat near the fire edge.

Billiard Fire: Firefighters on the northwest side are holding the fire along constructed dozer and handline near the 2290 road, northeast of Fatman Mountain. Heavy equipment and crews are constructing dozer and handlines, straightening control lines along road systems by eliminating switchbacks. Installation of water systems including hoses, sprinklers, pumps, and portable water tanks will be completed today for all structures along Blue Creek, Blue Creek Bay, Hillside Lane, and Fatman Road.

Isabella Lake Fire: The fire remains unstaffed and monitored from the air. Minimal growth of approximately 12 acres occurred yesterday.

Evacuations: On September 8th the Sanders County Sheriff’s Office placed the residents along Government Mountain Road and Timber Ridge Road into pre-evacuation status. Please sign up for Sanders County Emergency Alerts at 406-203-0082 to stay informed on the status of emergency conditions.

Closures: Area, road, and trail closures are in place for the Government, Billiard, and Isabella Lake Fires to provide for public safety and firefighting operations. See Inciweb for maps and closure descriptions.

Weather: The warming trend continues today with temperatures in the upper 70s to low 80s. Expect smoke from across the West over the area with westerly winds 6 to 12 mph and gusts up to 15 mph.

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