Approximate Location
Incident Overview
8/30 The Alder Creek Fire is 100% contained and is now in patrol status.
8/28 12:00 p.m. - Fire managers expect to begin downsizing from four crews to two crews on the Alder Creek Fire beginning tomorrow due to current fire activity. The fire perimeter did not increase despite strong winds Thursday evening and Friday and the fire area has experienced significantly lower temperatures and higher humidity the last 36 hours. The wind event associated with Thursday's cold front tested firelines but the lines held and firefighters began mop up operations yesterday.
Firefighters today will continue to mop up along the fireline to extinguish hotspots.
The National Weather Service is forecasting likely precipitation tomorrow in the fire area and that should aid firefighters in their mop up operation and allow fire managers to transition to a Type IV organization starting Monday. The decision to transition to a Type IV organization is dynamic and dependent on fire activity and weather.
To ensure public safety, several roads and trails remain closed on both the Bitterroot and Lolo National Forests. Those closures will remain in place until weather and fire conditions allow safe travel. Please see posted Closure Orders for details.8/27 12:15 p.m. - Strong winds associated with a cold front that arrived in western Montana yesterday created active fire behavior last night on the Alder Creek Fire but firelines and other preparation done over the last four days kept the fire from breaching the main fire perimeter.
Firefighters reported active burning within spot fires along the southeast perimeter late yesterday - and some torching was reported. Firefighters today will work to increase handline on the southeast and northeast perimeters of the fire. They will also begin mop up operations on some areas of the fire.
Much lower temperatures and higher humidity today is expected to significantly decrease fire activity in all areas of the perimeter. Visible smoke is unlikely today and fire behavior is expected to be limited to creeping ground fire.
8/26 2:00 p.m. - In preparation for strong winds expected to arrive today and this evening associated with a weather front firefighters will use aviation resources to contain spot fires along the southwest/north perimeter of the Alder Creek Fire and assess options for extending handline(s) along the southern edge of the fire. They will also extend a handline on the north end of the fire perimeter to try and secure the north end by tying into an old burn from 2000. Fire managers expect strong southerly winds this evening to produce aggressive burning conditions that will test firelines.Retardant may also be used on the southwest and north ends of the line in preparation of the front, which could bring ridgeline winds of up to 40 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service.The cold front arriving today will bring winds initially from the south/southwest that will shift later to west/northwest.A road closure for Road # 4267 on the Lolo National Forest was extended today for public safety. The revised order closes the road from Ambrose Saddle to the north, south to Sawmill Saddle.The total burned area for the fire has increased to 615 acres due to spot fires and the increased burning on the north end. Please see closure information on Inciweb.org for details on the closure.Fire managers anticipate that cooler weather conditions expected Sunday into Monday may slow fire behavior.Resources assigned to Alder Creek Fire: Five crews Three helicopters One Single Engine Air Tanker (SEAT)
The following closures are in place for public safety:
Lolo National Forest
Closed Trails
- Easthouse National Recreation Trail, National Forest System Trail # 313, sections of the trail on the Lolo National Forest between the Sawmill Saddle and Trail # 147 (approximately ¼ mile north of Eagle Point) shall be closed. (Beginning in the E1/2 of Section 16, T8N, R18W and ending in the SW1/4 of Section 35, T8N, R18W).
- Alder Creek Historic Trail, National Forest System Trail # 209, shall be closed in its entirety. (Beginning in the NW1/4 of Section 21, T8N, R18W and ending in the SW1/4 of Section 35, T8N, R17W).
Bitterroot National Forest
Closed Trails
- Forest Service Trail #313 (Sapphire Divide) beginning at Sawmill Saddle in Section 16, T8N, R18W south along the trail to the intersection with Forest Service Trail #215, in Section 35 T8N, R18W.
- Forest Service Trail #213 Beginning in Section 25, T8N, R19W in its entirety.
- Forest Service Trail #146 Beginning in Section PB41, T7N, 18W in its entirety.
Basic Information
| Incident Type | Wildfire |
|---|---|
| Cause | Lightning |
| Date of Origin | Sunday August 22nd, 2010 approx. 12:00 PM |
| Location | 12 miles southeast of Stevensville |
Current Situation
| Total Personnel | 80 |
|---|---|
| Size | 726 acres |
| Percent Contained | 100% |
| Fuels Involved | Heavy, continuous fuels |
| Fire Behavior | On 8/22 there was very active fire behavior; influenced by strong winds, steep terrain, and low humidity. On 8/24 burnout operations began and fire is carrying on its own, burning in fuel between fire perimeter and fire line to the north and northwest. 8/25 Active burning and visible smoke from burnout operation that began on 8/24. Visible smoke also from spot fires to the south and southeast of fire. 8/26 -- ground fire with some torching expected. 8/27 -- creeping ground fire expected 8/28 -- active fire behavior not expected due to lower temperatures and higher humidity. |
| Significant Events | 8/22 -- The fire pushed to the northeast by strong winds and the eastern portion of the fire has bumped into the Alder Fire from 2000. 8/24 -- Some spot fire activity reported on south and southeast flanks. 8/24 -- Burnout operation on the north end successful in providing buffer depth and strengthening north fireline 8/25 -- firefighters continued to work on containing spot fires to the south and southeast. Helicopter bucket drops were used to assist in containment of spot fires. Several spot fires were contained along west and southwest flank of the fire on 8/24. 8/27 -- significantly decreased fire activity expected today. 8/28 -- minimal fire activity reported |
Outlook
| Planned Actions | The fire is burning in steep terrain and heavy timber. Firefighters will use old burned areas from 2000 to their advantage where they can. Priority on 8/23 is to begin fireline construction to keep the fire from spreading west and north. Water drops from three helicopters will assist in fire suppression. Fireline construction completed on the north end on 8/23. On 8/24 firefighters began burnout operations to the north and along northwest corner to secure that portion of the fire perimeter. 8/25 -- Firefighters used helicopter bucket drops to aid in containing spot fires to the south and southeast. 8/26 -- firefighters will concentrate on direct line construction on north end and containment of spots on the southwest end, using aircraft where possible. Retardant may be used on north and south ends in preparation of windy conditions later today and this evening. 8/27 -- firefighters will strengthen lines along southeast and northeast corners and begin mop up in some areas of the fire. 8/28 -- mop up operations continue today. |
|---|---|
| Growth Potential | Fire will continue to consume unburned pockets of fuel to the southeast. Fire managers are preparing for a significant weather event expected to arrive 8/26 that will likely bring very strong winds and low humidity. Some fire growth and visible smoke expected from burnout operation on the north end and from spot fires to the south. 8/26 -- smoke and additional burning is expected today at the north end of the fire where unburned fuel remains from burnout operation. Smoke from spot fires along the southwest corner also expected today. 8/27 -- minimal growth expected due to lower temperatures and higher humidity. 8/28 -- minimal fire growth expected under current weather conditions |
| Terrain Difficulty | Steep terrain. Road access is limited. |
| Remarks | No property, people or structures are threatened. |
Current Weather
| Wind Conditions | 10-20 mph NW |
|---|
