Sotol Mitchell Fire: estimated 66 acres, 15% contained
Location: approximately 15 miles north of Sanderson, Texas

Resources have returned this morning to continue fire suppression efforts. Dozer crews will continue to construct and improve containment line. Engine crews will continue patrolling for hotspots to mop up. Aerial resources will be utilized as needed.
 
Fire Weather: Temperatures will get up to near 90 degrees today with partly cloudy skies. There is a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms today. Winds will be out of the east around 10-15 mph. Minimum relative humidity values will be near 35%.

Sotol Mitchell Fire: estimated 55 acres, 15% contained
Location: approximately 15 miles north of Sanderson, Texas

The Sotol Mitchell Fire is burning in rough terrain. Aerial resources were heavily utilized today to slow the growth of the fire. Ground resources began constructing containment line and will continue tomorrow.  

Rice and Snider Fire reach 100% containment. The County Assist Team demobilized resources today and will transfer management of the fire back to Counties, BLM and DNRC. The fire is secured and displays no threat. It is currently raining and cool. 

New photos have been posted

Sunday, September 6, 2020   

FIRE PROTECTION:   Custer, Powder River, Rosebud Counties; Bureau of Land Management and MT DNRC
OWNERSHIP:   Private, State, Bureau of Land Management, US Forest Service

Rice Fire:

• Located 6 miles N of Ashland, MT

• 15,515 acres

• 50% contained

• 171 firefighters (14 engines; 5 heavy equipment; 5 twenty-person hand crews; 2 water tenders)

Snider Fire:

• Located 20 miles N of Ashland, MT

• 31,588 acres

• 60% contained

• 119 firefighters (12 engines; 3 heavy equipment; 7 smokejumpers; 1 twenty-person hand crew; 1 water tender; team/overhead)

Today:  An infrared heat source flight was conducted last night over both fires to assist fire managers with locating areas of heat within the fire’s perimeter. From this information, maps were produced and shared at morning briefing, so crews know where to focus their efforts. The cottonwood trees along the Tongue River continue to pose challenges with their unpredictability. Cottonwoods can burn from within the trees trunk and branches and show no signs until they break off, fall or ignite. Two helicopters are available to assist where needed. Work outlined for today:

• Continue to secure uncontrolled fireline (controlled fireline = no heat 132 feet in from the fire edge)

• Begin mop-up operations, mop-up and secure 132 feet from fire edge (mop-up =seek and destroy all heat with hand tools and water)

• Monitor river bottom for fire

• Remain ready for initial attack if new fires start in the area

   

Thursday, September 3:  Management of the fire was transferred to the Dept. of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) County Assist Team (CAT). Incident Commander, David Hamilton and team will work closely with private landowners, local fire departments, county, state and federal partners to ensure life safety and values at risk (rangeland/forage; structures; natural resources and ag lands) are protected while putting out the fires as quickly as possible.

Wednesday, September 2: The Rice and Snider Fires started mid-day and grew quickly due to extreme fire behavior (hot temperatures, ripe vegetation, erratic winds).

CLOSURES & EVACUATIONS:  None are in place

Saturday, September 5, 2020  

SIZE:   Rice 12,318 acres – Snider 31,588 acres
CONTAINMENT:   Rice 30% - Snider 50%
FIRE LOCATION: N of Ashland MT
PROTECTION:   Custer, Powder River, Rosebud Counties; BLM and MT DNRC
OWNERSHIP:   Private, State, BLM, US Forest Service
RESOURCES:
   4 Helicopters
   26 Engines
   3 Water tenders
   7 Smokejumpers
   6 Twenty-Person Hand Crews
   5 Heavy Equipment (dozer/grader)        

Today: Fire resources working the Snider Fire will focus their efforts along the southern portion of the fire. This area is along the Tongue River; cottonwood trees in this area continue to hold heat and pose a safety hazard. Aviation is readily available and will assist where needed. Engines and heavy equipment are working the Rice fire moving north to secure the fires perimeter. The southeast area of the Rice Fire is looking good with secure fireline.

A red flag weather warning will be in effect today at 12:00 PM. Firefighters will take safety measures as fire activity, winds and temperature will increase. Engines and crews will also be ready to assist with any new fire starts that may occur.

Yesterday:  Hand crews and engines put in a long day of work to button up areas on the fire that needed work. The NW and SW areas of the Snider Fire are quiet and in patrol status except for the cottonwoods on both sides of the Tongue River.

Thursday, August 3:  Firefighters worked to further secure the eastern and southern edges of the Rice Fire. Burn operations assisted this effort. Management of the fire was transferred to the Dept. of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) County Assist Team (CAT). Incident Commander, David Hamilton and team will work closely with private landowners, local fire departments, county, state and federal partners to ensure life safety and values at risk (rangeland/forage; structures; natural resources and ag lands) are protected while putting out the fires as quickly as possible.

Wednesday, August 2: The Rice and Snider Fires started mid-day and grew quickly due to extreme fire behavior (hot temperatures, ripe vegetation, erratic wind). The Rice Fire is located 6 miles north of Ashland on the east side of the Tongue River and the Snider Fire is located 20 miles north of Ashland along the Tongue River and Tongue River Road on both the east and west sides. 

 NEWS ADVISORY

 GOVERNOR STEVE BULLOCK

 STATE OF MONTANA

CONTACTS:
Marissa Perry, Communications Director, Governor’s Office, (406) 444-4514

Erin Loranger, Press Secretary, Governor’s Office, (406) 444-9725
 

Governor Bullock to Visit Snider Fire 

On Saturday, September 5, Governor Steve Bullock will travel to the Snider Fire to receive a briefing of the incident. The Snider and Rice Fires burned approximately 48,000 acres in the first 24 hours and a Fire Management Assistance Grant was secured by the state on September 3. Management of the fire is under DNRC’s County Assist Team. 
 
 

WHO: Governor Steve Bullock; DNRC Director John Tubbs; DNRC Eastern Office Area Manager Chris Pileski

WHAT: Snider Fire Visit

WHEN: Saturday, September 5


Please RSVP to confirm attendance 

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CONTAINMENT:   0%
FIRE LOCATION: N of Ashland MT
PROTECTION:   Custer, Powder River, Rosebud Counties; BLM and MT DNRC
OWNERSHIP:   Private, State, BLM, US Forest Service

RESOURCES:  
3 Helicopters
15 Engines 
1 Water tenders
4 Twenty-Person Hand Crews
5 Heavy Equipment (dozer/grader)

TODAY:  Today fire resources will be working hard to build and secure fireline around both fire’s perimeter. A fireline is where firefighters or heavy equipment clear to bare soil with no burnable vegetation. This is critical work as weather conditions forecasted for tomorrow, Saturday, August 5th, are not favorable and could replicate the weather the day these fires started (hot and windy). 

Yesterday:  Firefighters worked to further secure the eastern and southern edges of the Rice Fire. Burn operations assisted this effort. A burn operation is conducted between the fireline, typically put in by a dozer and hand crews, and the fire. The unburned vegetation in this area is burned to increase the black area, which helps further secure the fire’s perimeter and makes it less likely the fire will move outside of that area.

Management of the fire was transferred to the Dept. of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) County Assist Team (CAT). Incident Commander, David Hamilton and team will work closely with private landowners, local fire departments, county, state and federal partners to ensure life safety and values at risk (rangeland/forage; structures; natural resources and ag lands) are protected while putting out the fires as quickly as possible.

Wednesday, August 2: The Rice and Snider Fires started mid-day and grew quickly dues to extreme fire behavior (hot temperatures, ripe vegetation, erratic wind). The Rice Fire is located 6 miles north of Ashland on the east side of the Tongue River and the Snider Fire is located 20 miles north of Ashland along the Tongue River and Tongue River Road on both the east and west sides.

All roads are open

IMMEDIATE EVACUATION ORDER for the areas south of Highway 36 in Bridgeville, and all communities along Alderpoint Road down to the Mendocino/Trinity County Line. 

EVACUATION WARNING for the areas west of Bell Springs Road to Highway 101 spanning from Alderpoint Road to the Mendocino / Trinity County Line. This includes the City of Garberville. Prepare for potential evacuations, including personal supplies and overnight accommodations. 

EXPANDED EVACUATION WARNING AREA. The Hopkins Fire Evacuation Warning area for Humboldt County has expanded to include all areas west of Bell Springs Road to Highway 101 spanning from Elk Creek Road / Dyerville Loop Road to the Mendocino / Trinity County Line.