ANDERSON COMPLEX DAILY FIRE UPDATE | Monday, Aug. 14, 2023

Anderson Complex Fire Information

Phone: (907) 921-2553 (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.)

Email: 2023.andersoncomplex@firenet.gov

Evacuation status to change for Rose Hip Creek, Clear Sky

The Denali Borough will announce a change today to the evacuation status for residents of the Rose Hip Creek area and Clear Sky homestead from GO to SET. Individuals in this area should be ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice if necessary. Those re-entering burned areas should be aware of possible hazards, including fire-damaged trees, ash pits, smoldering stumps or logs, and the potential for flash flooding. Firefighters will still be in the area. Please give them room to work.

The City of Anderson, the North Forties subdivision, and Kobe Ag subdivision are in evacuation status READY. Individuals in this area should remain ready for possible evacuation.

The Teklanika River and all residents along the Teklanika River remain in evacuation status GO. Individuals in this area should evacuate now. Do not delay. The Tri-Valley School is available for evacuation parking and will be available as an evacuation center, if needed. 

Visit the Denali Borough website for additional information.

FIRE UPDATE: A Blackhawk helicopter was used once again to drop water on the northeast area of the Shores Landing Fire (#325) yesterday afternoon following an increase in fire activity. The fire continues to show areas of heat around the perimeter but has not increased in acreage for more than a week.

Today, an 8-person wildland fire crew from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) finished providing defensible space for one allotment northeast of the Shores Landing Fire. Today they will work to protect a second allotment in the area. Most of the Shasta Lake Hotshots were moved yesterday to support crews working in the area of the Teklanika River Fire (#257). They are securing fire line where possible, extinguishing areas that are still showing heat and felling fire-damaged trees. Pumps, hoses, and sprinklers that are no longer needed are being dismantled for return to the fire cache.

Crews in the Anderson-Nenana Group are also disassembling excess pumps, hoses and sprinklers for return to the cache. They are working on suppression repair to reduce the lasting impacts of firefighting efforts. The Anderson-Nenana Group and Clear Group are responsible for responding to any new fire within the Anderson Complex.

Some members of the Shasta Lake Hotshots are still in the Rose Hip Creek and Clear Sky homestead. They are breaking down firefighting equipment that is no longer needed around structures in the area. The crew is also removing fire-damaged trees and extinguishing any hotspots they find.

Crews in the North Forties and Kobe Ag subdivisions are removing pumps, hoses, and sprinklers that are no longer necessary for structure protection. They will also work with heavy equipment operators to repair areas that were disturbed by firefighters during their work to protect structures from the Teklanika River Fire and Birch Creek Fire.

The Rock Creek Fire (#287) has not shown any growth for more than a week. Firefighters assessed structures around Dune Lake yesterday. The assessments were done to help develop a plan to protect structures and allotments in the area should the fire threaten them.

The Anderson Complex includes the Teklanika River Fire (#257), Birch Creek Fire (#285), Shores Landing Fire (#325), Rock Creek Fire (#287), Bear Creek Fire (#287), Kobe Road Fire (#297), Nenana River Fire (#288), and Nenana River 2 Fire (#289).

WEATHER: The weather is expected to be calm today, entering a pattern of little activity for the rest of the week. Partly to mostly cloudy skies and fair weather are expected. Afternoon showers and isolated thunderstorms are possible. Temperatures will begin to cool off, with daytime highs only getting up into the 60s.

CLOSURE: The City of Anderson has closed the shooting range until further notice for firefighter and public safety. Firefighters are working in the area for the next several days. The campground and playground are open.

Gravel Pit Daily Update

Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, Northwest Land Office

WESTERN MONTANA ALL HAZARDS IMT    │    INCIDENT COMMANDER: KEN PARKS

https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/mtmts-gravel-pit-fire

2023.gravelpit@firenet.gov      (406) 247-0514

Monday, August 14, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.

Location: 25 miles southeast of Libby, near Silver Butte

Start Date: 8/1/23                   Cause: Human            Size: 304 acres                 Containment: 65%

Total Personnel: 80                Engines:  7                  Tenders: 2                   Hand Crews: 2

Yesterday afternoon, crews assigned to the Gravel Pit Fire provided initial response for two fire starts, one near Silver Butte Pass and the other near Mount Sterling.

CURRENT STATUS

Yesterday, crews backhauled hose from the lower elevations of the fire, but left hose lays in place to the north.  where crews continue to locate smoldering materials and flare-ups. To the north crews continued to work in a grid pattern to locate hot spots within the fire perimeter. To the south, crews are working off of dozer line to ensure that any remaining heat sources are extinguished. Light winds combined with hot, dry conditions provide the opportunity for any smoldering combustion, such as holdover sparks from lightning strikes, to flare-up, intensify and spread. Crews were called away from the Gravel Pit Fire to assist with initial attack on two new fire starts in the area.

PLANNED ACTIONS

Crews will continue to provide initial support attack on the new fire starts near Silver Butte Pass and Mount Sterling. To the north, crews will continue with mop-up activities to ensure the hot spots are extinguished and minimize flare-ups within the perimeter. To the south, crews will continue mopping up and backhauling hose. With hot, dry weather expected crews will maintain readiness to provide an initial attack to other new fire starts and put them out.

WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR

The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory in the fire area from noon on Tuesday through midnight on Thursday with temperatures expected to reach 105°F. Triple-digit heat with relative humidity values in the teens and poor overnight RH recoveries are expected over the next several days.

Fire behavior is low, with smoldering and creeping, but the potential exists for more active fire behavior and new fire starts with the dry, hot weather pattern in the coming days.

EVACUATIONS AND CLOSURES

The evacuation warning in place for residents near the fire area along the Highway 2 corridor has been lifted. All Lincoln County residents are encouraged to sign up for emergency alerts by downloading the Code Red application and entering contact information. Code Red is the primary notification system to alert residents of evacuations.

Weather Temporarily Moderating Fire Behavior on The Black Feather Fire 

Acres: 2,198 acres 

Start Date: August 5, 2023 

Cause: Lightning  

Fuels: Timber, Brush, Understory 

Containment: 0% 

Resources: 480 personnel 

Location: Approximately 9 miles south of Gallina, NM, on the Santa Fe National Forest, Coyote Ranger District. Near the Peñas Negras Trail in the San Pedro Parks Wilderness.   

Highlights: Rains, high humidity and cooler temperatures are contributing to a reduction in fire behavior, allowing crews to continue to improve containment lines and enhance long-term strategies for the Black Feather Fire. Southwest Area Incident Management Team 2 is working with local stakeholders, forest managers, and Resource Advisors (READs), on a strategic risk analysis, and finalizing plans to address potential response needs if fire behavior increases in the future. Current resources on the fire include 7 hotshot crews, 2 hand crews, 12 engines, 4 helicopters, 4 dozers, 4 water tenders, numerous fixed-wing aircraft, and 1 infrared drone capable of mapping and identifying hot spots.  

A community meeting will be held for the Black Feather Fire on Tuesday, August 15, at 7 p.m. at the Coronado High School Campus at 1903 NM-96, Gallina, NM 87017, and will be live-streamed on the Black Feather Fire Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/blackfeatherfireinfo (no account is needed to view this live-stream).  

Operations: Firefighters continue to improve containment lines around the fire through fuel reduction, chipping and hauling out the large volume of timber slash created while building the lines. Crews on the eastern edge of the fire, outside of the wilderness, are locating and mopping up hot spots while strengthening primary and secondary containment lines. Incident objectives for the Black Forest Fire include firefighter and public safety, protecting property, infrastructure, and other values at risk. 

Evacuations:  The communities of Mesa Pinebetal, Mesa Poleo, and Wetherill remain in ‘Ready’ status. The Coyote Senior Center is open to evacuees, and livestock can be taken to the Rio Arriba Rural Event Center near Abiquiu. The Rio Arriba County Sheriff’s Office is coordinating evacuations. For more information, use the QR code below and visit the Sheriff’s Office Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100079688263048 

Safety: Expect increased activity in the area and on local roads as firefighters and equipment move to new locations. Please stay out of the fire area to allow crews safe access to the fire. A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place around the fire area. Please do not fly drones anywhere near the fire. If you fly, we can’t fly. 

Weather: Chances of rain increase today across the area, with the possibility of an isolated thunderstorm. There will be breaks in between showers with the sun temporarily breaking through, allowing temperatures to rise into the lower 70s near the fire.  

Restrictions/Closures: The Santa Fe National Forest has issued an area, road, and trail closure in part of the Coyote Ranger District. See https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/santafe/alerts-notices/?aid=82412 for information and a corresponding map. Forest Road 103 is closed to non-residential traffic. Closures will be adjusted based on fire activity.   

Smoke: More smoke may be visible in the area over the next several days as active smoldering is taking place. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures. Air quality information is available at https://www.airnow.gov/

Local Type 3 organization to assume command of the Kane Fire

August 14, 2023 – Daily Update

Size: 2,854 acres

Start Date: August 4, 2023

Cause: Lightning

Containment: 38%

Total personnel: 221

Location: 11 miles south of US 89A, near Forest Road 220, North Kaibab Ranger District, AZ

Fuels: Pinyon pine/juniper with grasses and sage

Highlights: At 6:00 AM on Tuesday, August 15, the Southwest Area Type 2 Incident Management Team 4 will transfer command of the Kane Fire to a local Type 3 organization, led by Incident Commander Quentin Johnson. Team 4 extends its sincere thanks to the local communities for their support, gratitude, and hospitality throughout this incident. Due to successful firefighting efforts, the Kane Fire is now 38% contained, and resources are either demobilizing to return to their home units or reassigning to assist other wildfires across the country.

Future Fire Information: The Kane Fire Information phone number and email address will no longer be active after 8:00 PM this evening. For future updates, please contact the Kaibab National Forest Public Affairs at sm.fs.kaibabpao@usda.gov or 928-643-8110 (office hours 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM).

Operations: The Kane Fire remains quiet with little heat or smoke, and monsoonal activity is expected to continue this week. Yesterday, Kane Fire crews completed two miles of suppression repair on firelines; ongoing repairs on Buffalo Ranch Road include grading washboards and reinforcing water drainage features. Crews have been conducting road maintenance on Forest Service Roads 220 and 284, including scattering cut brush. Over the next several days, crews will draft water from the Colorado River near the boat ramp at Lee’s Ferry to fill water tenders for grader work on Buffalo Ranch Road. The Southwest Area Type 2 Incident Management Team will complete a thorough transition with the Type 3 organization and the Kaibab National Forest to ensure continued success after their departure on Monday evening.

Weather: Conditions over the fire area will be mostly cloudy with a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms. Tuesday will bring more moisture moving northward with a better chance of storms over the Kaibab Plateau. Winds will be generally light and somewhat variable day to day, however, strong and gusty winds are possible near any storms. High temperatures will range from 85 to 88 degrees at 5,400 feet in elevation, and 77 to 80 degrees at 7,400 feet.

Closures: The Kane Fire emergency closures remain in effect on National Forest System and Bureau of Land Management lands around the Kane Fire area. Additional information is available on the on the Kaibab National Forest website and on InciWeb.

Safety: The health and safety of firefighters and the public are always the first priority. Members of the public should stay away from Kane Fire operations. A temporary flight restriction (TFR) is in place over the area, which includes unmanned aircraft, or drones. More information on the dangers drones pose to wildland firefighting aircraft and personnel on the ground can be found at: https://uas.nifc.gov/.

Smoke: Smoke has become less visible as rainstorms have moved into the Kane Fire area. An interactive smoke map at https://fire.airnow.gov/ allows you to zoom into your area to see the latest smoke conditions.

Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/azknf-kane-fire

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaibabNF

Kaibab NF website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/kaibab/home

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KaibabNF

•• Email: 2023.kane@firenet.gov ••• Phone: (928) 421-4983 ••• Office Hours: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM •••

Little Mesa Fire Update

Monday, August 14, 2023

Location: Approx. 15 miles west, southwest of Delta, CO, Dominguez Escalante National Conservation Area     

Discovered: July 31, 2023, 11:00 AM                            Cause: Lightning                    

Estimated Size: 3,378 acres                                            Vegetation Type: Pinyon, Juniper, sagebrush, grass

Containment: 10%                                                             Total Personnel:  84                           

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC: Air operations are being conducted on the Little Mesa Fire. For your safety, please stay out of the Potholes Recreation Area. The helicopters are using this water source for fire suppression.

Current Situation: Yesterday, fire resources continue to mop up and secure the Tatum Ridge Road by moving smoldering logs farther into the interior. These actions assist in protecting values at risk and obtaining containment. Conditions were ideal to conduct helicopter aerial ignition operations to achieve resource benefits in a confine and contain suppression strategy from Black Point Road to Dry Mesa, Little Canyon, and the north end of Dry Mesa on Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service land. The helicopter covers more area, which contributed to the increase in acres. Aerial ignition operators use a plastic sphere dispenser (PSD) that look like ping pong balls. These balls are in a hopper that inject the balls with a chemical, then disperses them from the helicopter. The PSD then ignite and burn up once they reach the ground. This tool allows fire managers to target specific areas of vegetation to be burned.

Today fire crews will utilize the Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) drone and hand ignition to clean up unburned islands on mesas tops where there is heavy dead and down vegetation. Smoke will be visible in the afternoon as ignition operations begin.  

Weather: Monsoon moisture is making its way into southwest Colorado bringing a chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon with slightly cooler temperatures. Winds will be terrain driven then become southwest with gust to 10 to 15 mph. Gusty and erratic winds are expected near showers and thunderstorms.

Evacuations and Closures: No evacuations have been issued. Temporary road closures in Delta County on Dry Mesa Rd at the intersection with Escalante Rim Rd and on USFS Dry Mesa Rd at Sawmill Mesa Rd junction. The GMUG National Forests have issued a forest closure order for the area around the Little Mesa Fire. Public access to the closure area is limited, visit https://bit.ly/3YwXNz0 for more information.

Smoke:  Smoke is visible from surrounding areas and Highways 50, 550, 92, 65, 141 and C37 Road. Go to fire.airnow.gov or colorado.gov/airquality/ to get updates on smoke conditions.

Aviation Safety:  Incident aircraft may be flying over the Little Mesa Fire air space. Fire aviation resources are flying at different altitudes and speeds. Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) or drones must never fly near wildfires. The only UAS or drones able to fly are agency owned and operated, which have been assigned to work on the wildfire and have communication with air operations. Remember if you fly, we can’t!

For updated information follow on these outlets:

Inciweb:  https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/coupd-little-mesa-fire

Facebook: @LittleMesaFire                 Twitter: @SWD_Fire

Ridge Fire Community Meeting

Monday, August 14, 2023, at 7:00 p.m.

Glacier Bible Camp
400 5th Street West
Hungry Horse, MT 59919

Streamed on Facebook -  https://www.facebook.com/ridge.fire.information

Video will be shared on YouTube after the meeting.

Quartz Ridge Fire           August 14, 2023  

Fire start date:   August 5, 2023

Cause:  Lightning

Location:  13 miles Northeast of Pagosa Springs, Colorado

Incident Commander: Jay Kurth

Management Team: NIMO Team 1

Management:  Suppression

Fire size today: 1,440 acres

Containment: 0%          

Personnel: 105

Evacuation Information: There are no current evacuations. Local residents should follow incident information for updates.

Closures: tinyurl.com/mpt9jeds

• Quartz Meadows Rd (NFSR#685)
• Quartz Ridge Trail (NFST#570)
• Quartz Creek Trail (NFST#571)

Latest Smoke Outlook: https://outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke. net/outlook/933fc4e4

INCIDENT OBJECTIVES:

• Firefighter and Public safety are the highest priority.
• Protect private lands within East Fork San Juan River drainage, natural resources, cultural and historic sites, recreation assets, and critical infrastructure including powerlines and gas utility lines.

The Quartz Fire continued to smolder with pockets of active torching, mostly on the southeast side. Yesterday’s wetting rains, cooler temperatures and higher humidity continue to slow the fire’s growth. The three spot fires on the northeast side of Quartz Creek are diminished and the fire’s east side is holding at Quartz Creek.  The fire is currently in an aspen grove on the north side and is not growing.  The wildfire is burning in steep terrain in the South San Juan Wilderness.  Indirect suppression tactics are the safest approach since significant (almost 90%) tree mortality exists which creates a potential for burning and falling trees.  These hazardous conditions also limit access to crews from engaging in the spot fires that are now established on the east side of  Quartz Creek.   Firefighters are focusing on developing containment and contingency plans in accessible areas.

YESTERDAY’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

• Continued to evaluate terrain and potential areas for containment outside of wilderness boundaries.
• Firefighters hiked into Quartz Creek to evaluate fire behavior and scout for strategic areas for control.
• Communications specialists installed a new repeater for enhanced ground to air and air to air communications.

TODAY’S PLAN:

• Continue with suppression tactic reviews, with the objective of keeping the fire south of East Fork Trail. Identify additional values at risk toward Elwood Pass.
• Continue to scout viable control features and contingency lines, particularly on the East Fork Road to the north of the fire and to the east.
• Continue to build structure protection plans both logistically and operationally.
• Identify lookout locations to track fire progress.

• Implement a combination of indirect line and point protection of structures and gas pipeline at risk.

WEATHER: The weather trend includes increasing rain on Monday, gusty winds, and stable temperatures. Sunday afternoon the area received 2/10” of “wetting rain.” Later in the week, the probability of thunderstorms will decrease.

Incident Information : https://tinyurl.com/mr37bhnr

Facebook : https://tinyurl.com/y87cycm4

Email :  2023.quartzridge@firenet.gov       

Information Line : 970-426-5370

Bear Creek Fire

August 14, 2023

Bear Creek Fire start date: August 1, 2023

Mosca Fire start date: August 7, 2023

Location:  23 miles Northwest of Pagosa Springs, Colorado

Cause:  Lightning

Incident Commander: Jay Kurth

Management Team: NIMO Team 1

Management:  Suppression

Fire size today: Bear: 408 acres Mosca: 7 acres

Containment:   0%     

Personnel:  90

Evacuation Information: Weminuche Valley is under pre-evacuation notice. Local residents should follow incident information and updates.

Closures:

• Fire area closure
• Cloman Park in Pagosa Springs

Latest Smoke Outlook: outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlook/933fc4e4 

INCIDENT OBJECTIVES:

• Firefighter and Public safety are the highest priority.
• Protect private lands within the Weminuche Creek drainages, natural resources, cultural and historic sites, recreation assets and critical infrastructure including powerlines and gas utility lines.

Yesterday scattered thunderstorms and cloudy weather limited active fire behavior.  The aspen stands to the east and south of the fire continued to slow fire growth, as they are less susceptible to fire spread.  Firefighters have been unable to directly engage the fire due to the steep remote terrain and heavy fuel loading of dead standing and down trees. While fire fighters are prepared for the fire to back down to the Weminuche Valley, significant fire growth is not expected today.  The potential for spread remains in Bear Creek towards the Little Sand and Shaw Creek trails. 

The Mosca Fire did not grow and had minimal active burning. The fire is burning in a remote area northwest of Bear Creek near Slide Mountain in steep terrain.

YESTERDAY’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

• Fire managers continued to use two masticators on the Mosca Road to the south of the fire to reduce fuels and to create a contingency line if that is needed.
• Crews in the Weminuche Valley area assessed risk level to private land/structures and developed and implemented structure protection plans.
• Local ground-fire resources continued to directly monitor fire growth and directional spread. These observations are critical to assessing the probability of success of the current incident strategy being achieved.
• Pike hotshots were flown in by helicopter, finished cutting an access trail into the Mosca fire and camped on site.

TODAY’S PLAN:

• Continue fuels mitigation along the Mosca Road corridor with masticators.
• Operational supervisors will continue scouting indirect control opportunities to the south along the Mosca Road, connecting that into the Weminuche Valley.
• Continue to collaboratively develop Management Action Points (MAP) with cooperators and stakeholders. MAPS are clearly specified incident conditions that, when reached, prompt a predefined fire management action or trigger the implementation of new strategies/tactics.
• Resource advisors will evaluate Shaw Creek trail as a potential containment line.
• Pike hotshots will camp in the Mosca fire area and will begin cutting dead trees away from the fire perimeter.

WEATHER:

• The weather trend includes thunderstorms and hail on Monday, gusty winds, and stable temperatures. Sunday afternoon the area received 2/10” of “wetting rain.” Later in the week, the probability of thunderstorms will decrease.

Incident Information: https://tinyurl.com/mrx4pp27

Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/mr2tpj69

Email :  2023.bearcreek@firenet.gov       

Information Line : 970-426-5370

The Black River Complex has decreased in complexity and will transition on August 15th at 0600 from the White Mountain Zone Type 3 Team to two Type 4 organizations. The Corduroy and Willow fires will be managed by Incident Commander Cody Chartier and trainee Steven Daly. The Boundary fire will be managed by Incident Commander Heath Barker and trainee Aaron Norman.

This will be the final update from the White Mountain Zone Type 3 Team unless conditions change.

CORDUROY FIRE

Start Date: July 12, 2023, Location: 20 Miles SW Alpine, Percent Contained: 92, Size: 1,027 acres, Cause: Lightning, Vegetation: Timber (Litter and Understory) Medium Logging Slash, Resources Assigned: 2 Engines, 2 Crews, 1 Dozer.

Operations: Fire suppression repair work will continue on the Corduroy fire in an effort to minimize adverse impacts resulting from fire suppression activities. Fire crews will monitor and patrol to mitigate any threats to containment lines.

BOUNDARY FIRE

Start Date: July 27, 2023, Location: 30 Miles SW of Alpine, Percent Contained: 78, Size: 929 acres, Cause: Lightning, Vegetation: Timber (Litter and Understory) Brush, Resources Assigned: 2 Engines.

Operations: Engine crews will patrol and monitor the Boundary fire with the objectives of keeping the fire to the north of the 2059B and east of the 2000D roads, and minimizing adverse effects to timber stands within the San Carlos boundary.

WILLOW FIRE

Start Date: July 27, 2023, Location: 12 Miles SW of Alpine, Percent Contained: 35, Size: 401 acres, Cause: Lightning, Vegetation: Timber (Grass and Understory) Medium Logging Slash, Resources Assigned: 3 Crews, 3 Engines, 1 Dozer.

Operations: Broadcast seeding of high-elevation native grasses is being used to stabilize soil and will continue as part of ongoing fire suppression repair work. Fire crews will monitor and patrol to mitigate any threats to containment lines.

Weather: Today’s forecast is calling for cloudy skies, a 70% chance of rain, a high of 66 degrees, and 8-13mph winds with gusts up to 20mph.

Values at risk: Sensitive species in surrounding areas, cattle and grazing areas, watersheds, riparian areas, impacts to Highway 191, Hannagan Lodge, and nearby electric powerlines.

Restrictions: The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests are in Stage 1 Fire Restrictions. For details, please visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/asnf/alerts-notices/?aid=81123

Smoke: Go to https://fire.airnow.gov/ to see the latest smoke conditions in your community. Smoke may be visible from Hwy 191, especially at night.

Official fire information:

• Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/azasf-black-river-complex
• Incident Email and Phone: 2023.blackrivercomplex@firenet.gov, 928-245-1585
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/apachesitgreavesnfs
• Apache-Sitgreaves website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/asnf

Ridge Fire Incident Update Date: 08/14/23

Fire Information: 406-998-6074

Hours: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Email: 2023.ridge@firenet.gov

Incident Website: http://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident information/mtfnf-ridge-fire

Location: 6 miles southeast of Hungry Horse

Size: 3132 acres

Percent Contained: 10 %  

Cause: Lightning

Start Date: July 30, 2023, 3:45 PM

Vegetation: Timber (Litter and Understory), Tall Grass, and Brush

Number of Personnel Assigned: 481

CURRENT SITUATION: Yesterday at the southern edge of the fire, the handline with containment closest to Emery Bay Campground and Boat Launch continued to hold and contribute to the increase in containment. Crews continued to construct direct handline along the western edge. They progressed further into a designated area called Research Natural Area (RNA) which is a scientific experiment and considered a control area. All management actions are limited to the point that fire, in the past, has been excluded from impacting the ecosystem allowing for natural successional processes to occur. The dense buildup of fuels is difficult for line construction but hand crews press on through the forest to achieve the full suppression objective on this fire. On the northern edge of the fire, crews are progressing to the east with great success. The increased smoke and fire behavior was generated from the eastern side of the fire. Aerial resources dropped water on the edge to slow the progress and minimize impact to the forest. A recently constructed heli-spot near Hungry Horse Mountain provided access for fire crews to the less accessible fire area where they constructed direct fire line near the fires edge.

Today, crews will continue direct line on the southern edge of the fire from the area shown on the map with 10% containment. They will progress west and north extending further into the RNA in their progress to connect with the dozer lines on the northern edge. The bulldozers on the northern edge of the fire will continue both direct and indirect line construction along the fires edge. Air resources will continue to drop water on the eastern edge of the fire to slow its progression and assist ground crews across the entire fire area. Structure protection assessments continue. They are gathering information about the community for current and future use by identify items like fire hydrants, accessibility, and escape routes.

WEATHER: Today’s weather is forecast to be mostly sunny with a maximum temperature of 90 degrees, minimum relative humidity of 22% at lower elevations, with winds being light and terrain driven.

CLOSURES: The Hungry Horse Reservoir is closed to all public access, including both the east and west side roads. As firefighting efforts continue on the Ridge Fire, the Tin Soldier Complex, and other fires in the area, the closure is in place to provide for public and firefighter safety. https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/flathead/alerts-notices/?aid=82283

PRE-EVACUATION NOTICE: The Flathead County Sheriff’s Office has issued a pre-evacuation notice from the east side of Spotted Bear Road to West Glacier. https://www.facebook.com/flatheadsheriff

EMERGENCY SHELTER:  The American Red Cross has identified the following location as an emergency shelter for residents affected by the Ridge Fire. Those who plan to use the emergency shelter are asked to call 1-800-733-2767 prior to your arrival.

Columbia Falls Junior High School 1805

Talbot Road Columbia Falls, MT

 https://www.facebook.com/FlatheadOES

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:   Residents should stay alert for changing conditions and visit ready.gov/wildfires for preparing for wildfires. Please refer to http://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/mtfnf-tin-soldier-complex for the Tin Soldier Complex incident information.