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News Release - July 25, 2003 at 7am |
Incident
Information Contacts: |
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Fact Sheet 7Contact: Joint Information Center at (406)755-3910. What: Wildfire, lightning-caused Started: 7/18/03, reported 1:25pm Location: About 20 miles east of Eureka, Montana, and 6 miles south of the Canadian border, primarily in the Teepee Creek drainage of the North Fork Flathead River. Legal Description: Portions of T36N, R22W and R23W Current Size: Approx.14031 acres (from infrared photography) Containment: 5% Estimated Containment Date: Unknown Threats to Human Life/Safety: Residences in the vicinity of Moose Creek, Whale Creek, Teepee Creek and Trail Creek drainages, north along the North Fork Road corridor to the Canadian Border. Resources Threatened: Grizzly bear, bull trout, and westslope cutthroat trout habitat, timber, water quality. Injuries in last 24 hours: None Jurisdiction: USDA-Forest Service (Flathead National Forest), Flathead County Fire Protection District Other Cooperating Agencies: Montana DNRC, BIA, BLM, NPS, Glacier National Park. Resources on Fire: 22 hand crews, 1 helicopters, 22 engines, 7 dozers, 17 water tenders 4 feller/bunchers, 6 skidders 1 excavator, numerous support and overhead for a total of approximately 628 personnel. Remarks: Yesterday the fire was again driven eastward by 30 mph winds, spotted across a 130 foot wide fuel break and the North Fork Road. The fire then jumped across the North Fork of the Flathead River and spread into Glacier National Park southwest of Kintla Lake. Number of structures lost is unknown at this time. Toady’s actions includes constructing direct control lines when firefighter safety can be assured, attacking spot fires, and continuing to provide structure protection. Community meetings for residents are scheduled today at Polebridge at 10:00AM and 9:00PM. This incident is being managed under a Unified Command between Flathead National Forest and Flathead County. A transfer of command from Sandman’s Type 2 Team to Bennett’s Type 1 Team will occur today at end of shift. Evacuation continues from the Moose Creek Drainage north to the Canadian Border, along the North Fork corridor, involving approximately 100 residences and cabins. Closures/Restrictions: This part of Montana is now under Stage II fire restrictions. An Area Closure has been implemented for Flathead National Forest lands in and around the Wedge Canyon Fire. The Camas and North Fork road is open only to residents and emergency traffic. The west half of Glacier Park is now closed to the public due to the Wedge Canyon, Robert and Trapper Creek Complex fires. |
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Glacier
National Park |
Flathead National Forest |
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Wedge
Canyon Complex