Wedge Canyon Complex

News Release -August 7, 2003 at 7am

Incident Information Contacts:
(406)755-3910 (voice) and (406)755-3931 (fax)

FACT SHEET 20

Wedge Fire Information ICP 801-413-0525
Website: www.fs.fed.us/r5/fire/ciimt5/ac/

JIC (Joint Information Center for all fires within Glacier N.P. and Flathead N.F.) 406-755-3910

What: Wildfire, lightning-caused

Started: July 18, 2003 reported 1:25 P.M.

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, T37N, R22W and R23W

Current Size: Approximately 25,723 acres

Containment: 50%

Estimated Containment Date: Unknown

Threats to Human Life/Safety: Whale Creek Residents along the North Fork Road, Trail Creek Residents (approximately 100 homes/cabins), historic buildings, and Kintla Campground

Resources Threatened: Timber, Recreation, Fisheries, Class 1 Airshed, Wild & Scenic River Corridor and Private Property.

Injuries in the last 24 hours: One minor head injury.

Jurisdiction: USDA Forest Service (Flathead National Forest), Flathead County and Glacier National Park

Other Cooperating Agencies: Montana DNRC, BIA, and BLM

Resources on Fire: 33 hand crews, 8 helicopters, 59 engines, 8 dozers and 21 water tenders. Equipment used as needed includes feller bunchers, skidders and excavators. Total support and overhead positions are approximately 1,293 personnel.

Remarks: To date: 7 houses/cabins, 29 outbuildings were lost, and 1 house/cabin damaged.

Unstable weather conditions are being monitored for high winds and possible lightening.
Firefighters continue to construct direct handline on the north flank of the fire using helicopter support.
Crews are using fireline explosives to blast control lines two miles southwest from the foot of Kintla Lake.
Aerial support will be used to put out any hot spots from going across the North Fork of the Flathead River from Glacier National Park.
Rehabilitation efforts are continuing along firelines including dozer lines on private lands.
Mandatory evacuations have been reduced to precautionary from Moose Creek to the Canadian border.
Wedge Canyon fire costs to date are estimated at $14,200,000.

Community meeting at 8:30 P.M. at Polebridge.

Glacier National Park
P.O. Box 128
West Glacier, MT 59936
(406)888-7800
(406)888-7808 - FAX
(406)888-7806 - TDD

Disclaimer | Privacy Act

Flathead National Forest
1935 3^rd Avenue, East
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406)758-5200
(406)758-5363 - FAX)
(406)758-5367 - TDD)

Disclaimer | Privacy Act