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Kootenai National Forest fire update |
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September 5, 2017 |
This is the September 5 fire update of the fires
that are burning on the Kootenai National
Forest. The Gibralter, Caribou, West Fork/Mount
Tom, Moose Peak and Highway 200 Complex fires
are detailed below.
The Gibralter Ridge Fire is at 7,195 acres,
however, firefighters will continue to mop-up,
patrol and monitor the west, south and east
sides of the fire. Firelines continue to hold,
fire growth is minimal, and no new structures
have been lost. Pre-evacuation warnings and
closure orders are in place in the vicinity of
the fire areas.
The Caribou Fire is estimated at 19,070 acres at
10 percent containment. A full evacuation order
remains in place for the West Kootenai area. The
Sheriff’s Office will be escorting property
owners back into affected areas to survey their
property. Structure protection will continue to
be the priority and heavy equipment will be used
to build fire line to the southeast of West
Kootenai. Area closure orders remain in place
for the Caribou Fire.
Fire managers will continue coordinating with
Canadian fire managers on fire suppression
activities.
The West Fork Fire and the Mount Tom fire grew
together last night. It is estimated at 5,760
acres with no report on containment. The fires
will now be known as the West Fork Fire.
Structure protection assessment and evaluating
values at risk is now on-going. Firefighters
will be constructing fire line and heavy
equipment will be used north of Bobtail to
construct containment lines which may be used
for burnout operations.
Closure orders remain in place for the West Fork
Fire.
The Rocky Mountain Team led by Jay Esperance,
assumed command of the West Fork/Mount Tom and
Moose Peak Fires this morning.
The Moose Peak Fire, which originated in Sanders
County, will now be managed by Rocky Mountain
Team out of Libby. This fire is estimated at
4,993 acres. Structure protection and evaluating
values at risk is a priority. Closure orders
remain in place for the Moose Peak Fire.
The Highway 200 Complex fires include the
Readers Fires, Miller Fire and Cub Fire on the
Cabinet Ranger District and Deep Creek and Sheep
Gap Fires on the Plains-Thompson Falls Ranger
District on the Lolo National Forest.
These fires are estimated at 16,362 acres with
zero percent containment. Structure protection
and strengthening existing containment lines
will continue to be the priority.
Area closures are currently in place around
immediate fire areas and areas integral to safe
fire operations.
Firefighters will continue mop-up and patrol of
the Reader Fire and will now shift some of those
resources to the Cub Fire.
Due to the large number of area fires, air
quality and visibility will continue to be very
poor. People with smoke sensitivities should
limit their exposure and exertion while
outdoors. For more information please visit
www.todaysair.mt.gov.
Stage II Fire Restrictions are in effect for
Lincoln County and Kootenai National Forest due
to extreme fire danger. Protection of human
life, both that of firefighters and the public
is the overriding priority. Safety comes first,
every time.
Current fire conditions can be found at
www.firerestrictions.us. Go to the Kootenai
webpage at
https://www.fs.usda.gov/kootenai for the
latest on Closure Orders and Kootenai Forest
fire maps. Info on the Gibralter Ridge, Caribou,
West Fork and Highway 200 Complex can also be
found at
https://www.inciweb.gov.
The Red Cross has set up a shelter at the Libby
Assembly of God on Collins Avenue. Please go to
the Lincoln County Sheriff Facebook page for
more details at
https://www.facebook.com/lincolncountysheriffmontana.
For up to date information about area fires,
please visit any of the websites listed above. |
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