Wedge Canyon Complex

News Release -August 11, 2003 at 7am

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

Fact Sheet 24

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 Tepee Creek drainage of the North Fork Flathead River.

Legal Description: Portions of T36N, T37N, R22W and R23W

Current Size: Approximately 25,801 acres

Containment: 70%

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: A shoulder injury, laceration to a wrist and one case of dehydration.

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

Other Cooperating Agencies: Montana DNRC, BIA, and BLM.

Resources on Fire: 26 hand crews, 10 helicopters, 37 engines, 7 dozers and 19 water tenders. Equipment used as needed includes feller bunchers, skidders and excavators. Total support and overhead positions are approximately 1,118 personnel.

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

Red flag conditions with strong winds, low humidities and high temperatures heightened fire activity yesterday. Active fire burned in pockets of unburned fuel in the interior of the fire.
Fire activity increased in Glacier National Park, south of Kintla Lake. Wind gusts reaching 30 mph and temperatures in the 90’s, pushed the fire through heavy fuels in a northeast direction.
The North Fork Road is closed from Glacier Rim to the Canadian boarder.
Estimated cost to date is $18,220,000.
A red flag warning has been issued for today. Increased fire activity is expected today, with interior torching and short crown runs. The public should expect to see more smoke in the days ahead.

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

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

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