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Home : Fire Information : Robert Fire : Morning Update

Glacier National Park and Flathead National Forest Fires
Robert Fire-Trapper Creek, Middle Fork
and Rampage Fire Complexes

For fire information, contact the Joint Information Center
406-755-3910
www.fs.fed.us/nwacfire

Robert Fire Information 406/892-0946
For Road Closure & Evacuation Information:
Flathead County OES Public Information Line: 406/758-5606

Headlines

Within the complexes, 8 fires continue to burn for a total of 113,059 acres. A chance of scattered showers throughout the area should prevail again today with a 20% chance of wetting rains. Suppression priorities are to prevent fire from crossing the Middle Fork of the Flathead River and to diminish the threat to structures in Pinnacle and Essex; to stop the westerly spread of the Middle Fork fires towards West Glacier; and to keep the Rampage Complex from spotting over the Continental Divide.

ROBERT FIRE: The Robert Fire is located in Flathead County, about 8 miles north of Columbia Falls, Montana. Crews on the Robert Fire will be working west of the North Fork Road, mopping up hot spots and dropping snags. The potential for active fire still remains in the Camas Creek area and throughout the northeast end of the fire.

• Today’s Reported Acreage: 57,570 acres.
• Yesterday’s reported acres: 57,570
• Containment: 60%
• Expected Date of Containment: 10/01/2003
• Date started and cause: Started July 23 at about 4:30 pm; cause under investigation

RAMPAGE COMPLEX: These fires started 15 miles east of West Glacier, Montana, north of the Middle Fork of the Flathead River. Crews will monitor the fire’s progress and remove fire protective wrap from the Scalplock Lookout.

• Today’s Reported Acreage: 24,488 acres (Double Mountain – 23,958 acres; Riverview - 530 acres)
• Yesterday’s reported acres: 23,497
• Containment: 0% Expected Date of Containment: 10/01/2003
• Date started and cause: Started August 19 at 10:00 pm; lightning

MIDDLE FORK COMPLEX: This complex is located three miles east of West Glacier, Montana, north of the Middle Fork of the Flathead River. The fire should continue to slowly move downhill toward the Middle Fork of the Flathead River. Crews will continue rehabilitation work in Lincoln Creek and remove fire protective wrap from the Loneman Lookout.

• Today’s Reported Acreage: 11,851 acres.
• Yesterday’s reported acres: 10,977.
• Containment: 5% Expected Date of Containment: 10/01/2003
• Date started and cause: Started August 19 at 10:00 pm; lightning.

TRAPPER CREEK COMPLEX: The Trapper Creek Complex is located in Flathead County 45 miles northeast of Kalispell, Montana in Glacier National Park Crews will continue to monitor the Trapper Creek fire and patrol the fire line.

• Today’s Reported Acreage: 19,150 acres.
• Yesterday’s reported acres: 19,150 (Trapper Creek fire).
• Containment: 45 % Expected Date of Containment: 10/01/2003
• Date started and cause: started July 16 at about 2:00 am; lightning.

FIREFIGHTING RESOURCES
The Robert complex of fires has the following resources: 20-Person Fire Crews – 7; Helicopters – 6; Engines – 21; Water tenders – 12; Total Personnel – 527
Firefighting resources will continue to be moved to priority areas within the complexes, as the situation requires.

PUBLIC MEETINGS
An update on the Robert complex of fires will be presented at the Blackfoot Lake Complex public meeting on Friday, September 12 at 7:00 p.m., at the Canyon Elementary School in Hungry Horse.

WEATHER
Today’s forecast calls for mostly cloudy skies. The fire area received 1 to 1¼ inch of rain over the last 24-hour period. Temperatures will be in the low 60s in the valley and in the mid 50s on the ridge tops. Relative humidity levels will also remain moderate. The extended forecast calls for a warming trend over the weekend.

COOPERATORS
Blackfeet Nation, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, Canadian Park Service, National Park Service, National Weather Service, Department of Defense, Montana DNRC, Montana National Guard, US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Forest Service, Flathead County Sheriff’s Office, the Flathead County Office of Emergency Services, Fire Departments of Flathead County, Burlington Northern Railroad.

RESTRICTIONS AND CLOSURES
National Park Areas: There are several closures and restrictions of trails and facilities within Glacier National Park. For more information and up to date conditions, contact the park at 406-888-7800 or check www.nps.gov/glac
National Forest Areas: The burned area between Big Creek and Glacier Rim remains closed to public use, including the North Fork road and National Forest lands on the west side of the road. For more information, contact the Forest Service Ranger Station at 406-387-3800.

• The Middle Fork River is open; however, there is no use on the Glacier National Park side of the river from the Paola river access site to West Glacier river access site.
• The North Fork of the Flathead River from Sondreson Meadow to Big Creek is open. It is mandatory that the public must take out their watercraft at Big Creek. The river remains closed below Big Creek and from the Canadian border to Sondreson Meadow.

Other Areas: U.S. 2 is open; however, stopping is not allowed between West Glacier and the flashing sign at the Cascadilla river access.