For Information on the Pacific Northwest Trail Reroute refer to: https://www.pnt.org/pnta/know-before-you-go/plan-your-trip/trail-alerts/.

Beginning today updates will be generated as needed. The fire information line will be staffed from 7:00am to 9:00am and 5:00pm to 7:00pm

 Acreage and containment remain the same today with 21,349 acres and 75% containment.

 

Acreage and containment remain the same as yesterday with 21,349 acres and 75% containment. Firefighters are utilizing heavy equipment and aviation support to increase containment line.

Current and Planned Activity

Crews are improving fireline in northern areas of the Elmo Fire by digging out and extinguishing burning stumps, roots, and other hidden pockets of heat in an effort to increase containment. Smokes are still being detected in the eastern part of the fire and firefighters are focusing on extinguishing those areas of heat and removing hazards as needed. Many resources are being released from the fire today in efforts to right-size the organization.

The lightning start from Wednesday, August 10th, north of Lake Mary Ronan, is secured and has fireline around the entire perimeter. Firefighters work towards containment of the two-acre fire utilizing water via hose lays, portable fill tanks, and aviation support as needed.

Resources on the Elmo Fire provided initial attack support on another new start detected yesterday south of Hwy 28. The Bitterroot Hotshots along with local engines responded to the 1,500 square foot fire and will ensure it is secure today.

Northern Rockies Incident Management Team 7 will transition command of the Elmo Fire to a Type 3 team at 6:00 AM tomorrow morning. The public can continue to find information on the Elmo fire from calling the fire information line, sending an email, or checking Inciweb and Facebook as these sources will remain the same. Fire Information boards and posting sites will be reduced today.

Weather: Mostly sunny. The inversion will begin to lift around 10:00am. Temperatures 82 to 87. Winds southwest 5 to 15 becoming west 10 to 15 mph with gusts to 20 this afternoon.

Evacuations

As of August 10, 2022, Camp Tuffit Road/West Shore Road remains under evacuation order and closed to all traffic. Speed limits on Lake Mary Ronan Road (Hwy 352) are reduced to 35 mph.

Area Closures and Restrictions

The Flathead Indian Reservation Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes and Lake County are currently under Stage 1 Fire Restrictions.

This is the last Daily Update from Northern Rockies Team 7.

###

Containment increased to 75% with additional containment line achieved on multiple areas of the fireline including the southeast, northwest, and northeast areas of the fire. Acreage remains at 21,349.

Current and Planned Activity

Thunderstorms passed through the fire area yesterday evening bringing lightning and light rain. Lightning strikes resulted in a new start, located in section 3 about 1 mile north of Lake Mary Ronan. The Silver City Hotshots and engine crews responded to the start and estimated it at 2 to 3 acres yesterday evening. Firefighters, with the support of the Type 1 helicopter, will focus on constructing line around the fire today.

On the west side of the Elmo Fire, crews pulled excess hose from the containment line and will patrol and monitor the area. Crews on the northwest edge of the fire continue to locate pockets of interior heat near the fireline. Firefighters in this area will utilizing helicopter bucket drops to support their efforts. Uncontained fireline on the north end of the fire will require several days of work as the fire edge is extremely uneven. Crews in this area are using 50 gallons of fuel per day to run pumps that bring water to hoses. On the east side of the fire, crews work to eliminate remaining heat and potential threats near structures.

Fire statistics to date: 54 miles of fire perimeter, 2.5 miles of hose deployed, approximately 2.5 million gallons of water dropped from aircraft, and 482,000 gallons of fire retardant dropped.

Weather: Mostly sunny becoming partly cloudy in the afternoon. Temperatures 87 to 92. Terrain driven winds ranging from 5-10 mph. gusting to 40 near thunderstorms. RH values will be 24-29%.  Chance of thunderstorms between 3 and 6 p.m.   

Evacuations

As of August 10, 2022, Camp Tuffit Road/West Shore Road remains under evacuation order and closed to all traffic. Speed limits on Lake Mary Ronan Road (Hwy 352) are reduced to 35 mph.

Area Closures and Restrictions

The Flathead Indian Reservation Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes and Lake County are currently under Stage 1 Fire Restrictions.

###

Containment increased to 66% with additional containment line achieved west of Red Lake and south of Big Meadows Road. No fire growth occurred yesterday; acreage remains at 21,349.

Evacuations

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Lake Mary Ronan State Park updated evacuations and closures effective at 12:00 AM on Wednesday, August 10, 2022.

·        Pre-evacuation warnings have been lifted for residents along Lake Mary Ronan Road (Hwy 352) west of Dayton Creek Road.

·        Pre-evacuation warnings have been lifted for residents of Chief Cliff Lane, Black Lake Road, Big Meadows Road, and Dayton Creek Road.

·        Camp Tuffit Road/West Shore Road remains under evacuation order and closed to all traffic.

·        The entirety of Lake Mary Ronan Road (Hwy 352) and all arterial roads are open to residents and non-residents.

·        Speed limits on Lake Mary Ronan Road (Hwy 352) are reduced to 35 mph.

·        The Boat Ramp at the Elmo Fishing Access Site and Lake Mary Ronan State Park are OPEN.

Area Closures and Restrictions

·        The Flathead Indian Reservation Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes and Lake County are currently under Stage 1 Fire Restrictions.

Current and Planned Activity

Crews made progress on containment line yesterday and expect another favorable day for further securing the fireline. Firefighters on the west side of the fire found no heat within 120 to 200 feet into the interior of the fire. To prepare the southwest side of the fire for patrol status, firefighters are beginning to remove hose and equipment. On the northwest end of the fire, crews are focused on areas still holding heat within 120 feet of the fireline. Firefighters are locating and extinguishing areas of remaining heat with saw work and large water handling operations using hoses, engines, skidgines, and water tenders. On the northeast and east portions of the fire, firefighters work to eliminate heat and hazards to secure the edge of the fire and increase containment in the area. Suppression repair opportunities are being identified for roads, fences, and dozer lines.

Fire statistics to date: 54 miles of fire perimeter, 2.5 miles of hose deployed, approximately 2.5 million gallons of water dropped from aircraft, and 482,000 gallons of fire retardant dropped.

Weather: Partly cloudy with temps 88 to 93, and southwest winds ranging from 5-10 mph. RH values will be 23-28%. Slight chance of showers expected late afternoon or evening.

###

No fire growth occurred yesterday; acreage remains at 21,348 and 61% containment.

Evacuations

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Lake Mary Ronan State Park updated evacuations and closures effective at 12:00 AM on Wednesday, August 10, 2022.

·       Pre-evacuation warnings have been lifted for residents along Lake Mary Ronan Road (Hwy 352) west of Dayton Creek Road.

·       Pre-evacuation warnings have been lifted for residents of Chief Cliff Lane, Black Lake Road, Big Meadows Road, and Dayton Creek Road.

·       Camp Tuffit/West Shore Road remains under evacuation order and closed to all traffic.

·       The entirety of Lake Mary Ronan Road (Hwy 352) and all arterial roads are open to residents and non-residents.

·       Speed limits on Lake Mary Ronan Road (Hwy 352) are reduced to 35 mph.

·       The Boat Ramp at the Elmo Fishing Access Site and Lake Mary Ronan State Park are OPEN.

Area Closures and Restrictions

·       The Flathead Indian Reservation Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes and Lake County are currently under Stage 1 Fire Restrictions.

Current and Planned Activity

Yesterday, crews capitalized on favorable conditions to strengthen fire lines. Firefighters on the west side of the fire found minimal smokes as they worked their way 120 to 200 feet into the interior of the fire. On the northwest end, where fire is still active, crews gridded the area and discovered fire outside of the perimeter. The spot fire was about 50 feet by 50 feet, and firefighters were successful in constructing fireline around the spot. On the northeast portion of the fire, firefighters conducted small burning operations to more easily secure the edge of the fire. Crews on the west side of the fire worked to reduce hazards focusing on removing fire weakened and dead trees to ensure the safety of firefighters and the public.

Today, fire crews will mitigate further hazards by digging out roots, locating ash pits, and felling dead trees. Firefighters will continue to ‘mop up’ or extinguish areas of heat utilizing hose lays to bring water interior into the fire and breaking apart smoldering debris. Suppression repair opportunities are being identified for roads, fences, and dozer lines.

Weather: Wednesday’s weather will be partly cloudy with temps 85 to 90, and southwest winds ranging from 5-10 mph. RH values will be 23-28%. Light to moderate showers are expected late afternoon or evening with wind gusts up to 20 mph.

8.9.2022  6:00 PM Update on Evacuations and Closures 

Updates from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Lake Mary Ronan State Park on evacuations and closures in effect at 12:00 AM on Wednesday, August 10, 2022.

• Pre-evacuation warnings have been lifted for residents along Lake Mary Ronan Road (Hwy 352) west of Dayton Creek Road.

• Pre-evacuation warnings have been lifted for residents of Chief Cliff Lane, Black Lake Road, Big Meadows Road, and Dayton Creek Road.

• Camp Tuffit/West Shore Road remains under evacuation order and closed to all traffic.

• The entirety of Lake Mary Ronan Road (Hwy 352) and all arterial roads are open to residents and non-residents.

• Speed limits on Lake Mary Ronan Road (Hwy 352) are reduced to 35 mph.

• The Boat Ramp at the Elmo Fishing Access Site and Lake Mary Ronan State Park are OPEN. 

Lake County, MT website: https://mt-lakecounty.civicplus.com/361/Elmo-2-Fire

The Elmo Fire stayed relatively within the same footprint as yesterday with only 4 acres of growth for a total of 21,349 acres. Additional containment line east of Cromwell Creek and south of Lake Mary Ronan increased containment to 61%.

Evacuations

·       Evacuation orders have been lifted for residents along Lake Mary Ronan Road (Hwy 352) west of Dayton Creek Road. This area remains under pre-evacuation warning and open to residents and guests only.

·       Camp Tuffit/West Shore Road remains under evacuation order and is closed to all traffic.

·       Residents of Chief Cliff Lane, Black Lake Road, Big Meadows Road, and Dayton Creek Road remain under pre-evacuation warning and open to residents only.

·       Speed limits on Lake Mary Ronan Road (Hwy 352) are reduced to 35 mph.

Area Closures and Restrictions

·       The Flathead Indian Reservation Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes and Lake County are currently under Stage 1 Fire Restrictions.

·       The Boat Ramp at the Elmo Fishing Access Site and Lake Mary Ronan State Park are CLOSED.  

Current and Planned Activity

Yesterday, firefighters strengthened and deepened lines around the fire utilizing hose lays and heavy equipment to ensure the fireline was clear of heat. In the northern area of the fire, firefighters reinforced fireline utilizing handcrews and water from hose lays, skidgines and aircraft. Extensive helicopter bucket work occurred on the west side of the fire to aid firefighters as they secured the fireline up to 200 feet into the interior. Crews across the fire area identified and removed hazards near the fireline that posed a safety risk to firefighters and public. Firefighting resources and air assets were made available to support other fires in the area. Scoopers assisted with the Redhorn fire to the south, outside St. Ignatius.

Today will be the hottest and driest day of the week, increasing potential fire activity. Fire activity and smoke will likely increase in the interior of the fire with single tree and group tree torching and active surface flame.  Firefighters on the north end of the fire will improve hose lays adding hose as necessary to aid in securing the fireline. Aviation support will be used as needed. Crews and resources are positioned in areas where most needed or released from the incident as the response is right sized appropriately to the fire needs.

Weather: Sunny, hot and dry with winds ranging from 5-10 mph out of the southeast. Temperatures will range from 93 to 97 degrees. Relative humidity values will be 14-18%

Public Meeting this evening, Monday, August 8th at 7:00 pm at the Elmo Pow Wow Grounds – Hwy 93.

The Elmo Fire grew only 18 acres yesterday due to firefighter efforts on the ground and ample aircraft support. Containment increased to 55% and a total acreage of 21,345 acres.

Evacuations

·       Evacuation orders have been lifted for residents along Lake Mary Ronan Road (Hwy 352) west of Dayton Creek Road. This area remains under pre-evacuation warning and open to residents and guests only.

·       Camp Tuffit/West Shore Road remains under evacuation order and is closed to all traffic.

·       Residents of Chief Cliff Lane, Black Lake Road, Big Meadows Road, and Dayton Creek Road remain under pre-evacuation warning and open to residents only.

·       Speed limits on Lake Mary Ronan Road (Hwy 352) are reduced to 35 mph.

Area Closures and Restrictions

·       The Flathead Indian Reservation Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes and Lake County are currently under Stage 1 Fire Restrictions.

·       The Boat Ramp at the Elmo Fishing Access Site and Lake Mary Ronan State Park are CLOSED.  

Current and Planned Activity

Yesterday, firefighters strengthened and improved fireline in the east, north, and west areas of the fire under favorable conditions with aviation support. In the northern area of the fire, west of Big Meadow Rd, firefighters gridded for areas of heat and crews just south of Lake Mary Ronan were supported by engines and extensive hose lays to extinguish areas of heat along the shoreline road. Farther to the south, the Helena Hotshots performed a small burning operation to safely bring the fire to a road which was supported with hose lays. Crews worked to secure the fireline in areas of south Cromwell Creek and Black Lake on the east side of the fire. Crews on night operations worked a shorter shift so they could get adequate rest and tie into daytime operations.

With today’s hot and dry weather, fire activity and smoke will likely increase in the interior of the fire as well as the northern edge. Firefighters will engage in containment operations with the goal to reduce heat from the fireline to the desired depth of 120 feet into the interior. South of Lake Mary Ronan, fire hose and pumps will be used to make water more available for securing firelines. Small firing operations may be utilized to aid in accomplishing these goals when safe to do so.

Weather: Monday’s weather will be sunny, hot and dry with winds ranging from 5-10 mph from the West. Temperatures will be in the 90s. Relative humidity values will vary from 13 to 18%.

###

8.7.2022 10:00 AM Update on Evacuations and Closures

Updates from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office on evacuations and closures in effect at 12:00 PM on Sunday, August 7, 2022.