NEWS RELEASE
Final Elbow Pass Complex Fire Update - October 5, 2012
Fire Information - Elbow Pass ComplexFINAL FIRE UPDATEThursday, October 04, 2012 5:00 PM This will be the last update for the Elbow Pass Complex unless conditions change significantly on the ground... more
Approximate Location
Incident Overview
On October 3, 2012 the Elbow Pass Complex received between 2.5 inches (in the Danaher area of the Flathead NF) and 12 inches (in the Green Fork area of the Lewis and Clark NF) of snow. The fire is contained on the Lewis and Clark NF, and activity is minimal on the Flathead NF. As of midnight on Friday, October 5, 2012 the Lewis and Clark will be rescinding the Area Closure associated with the Elbow Pass Complex and replacing it with specific trail closures. The Flathead NF is reducing the Area Closure on that side of the Continental Divide to an area within 1/2 mile of the fire's most recent mapped perimeter.
A full update will be posted on InciWeb early on Friday, October 5, including updated photos and area closures. Trail and area closures will continue to be updated as needed; written updates and articles will not be posted again unless conditions change significantly on the ground.
The most recent acreage available for the Complex is 26,128 total acres: 17,324 acres on the Lewis and Clark NF; 7,565 acres on the Flathead NF; and 1,239 acres on the Lolo NF.
The Elbow Pass Complex is comprised of five different lightning ignitions from July 12 through July 31. These four fires have merged into one fire, the Elbow Pass Complex: Triple Divide Fire, Rapid Creek Fire, Elbow Pass Fire, and Bar Creek Fire. The fires are generally located 25 miles west southwest of Augusta, Montana. The Falls Point fire is south of the Complex. All are located in inaccessible terrain in heavy fuels. The fires are in the Bob Marshall and Scapegoat Wilderness Areas and are on three forests: the Flathead, Lolo and Lewis & Clark.
Basic Information
| Incident Type | Wildfire |
|---|---|
| Cause | Lightning |
| Date of Origin | Thursday July 12th, 2012 approx. 12:36 PM |
| Location | Rocky Mountain Ranger District, Lewis and Clark National Forest |
| Incident Commander | Tveidt (lcnf), Carbonari |
Current Situation
| Total Personnel | 14 |
|---|---|
| Size | 26,128 acres |
| Percent Contained | 100% |
| Estimated Containment Date | Thursday November 01st, 2012 approx. 12:00 AM |
| Fuels Involved | 10 Timber (Litter and Understory). |
| Fire Behavior | No activity - snow cover on ground |
| Significant Events | 8-10" of snow on October 3 on Lewis and Clark portion; 2.5" of snow on Flathead/Lolo portion. |
Outlook
| Planned Actions | Removal of structure protection from Basin and Danaher cabins. Assessment of changes to trail and area closures. Assessment of trail opening needs. Monitoring. |
|---|---|
| Growth Potential | Low |
| Terrain Difficulty | Extreme |
| Remarks | Some trail closures remain in effect and will modified in coming days. Fire received 8-12" of snow. Acres by ownership: Lewis & Clark NF (MT-LCF) 17,324, Flathead NF (MT-FNF) 17,324, Lolo National Forest (MT-LNF) 1,239. |
Current Weather
| Wind Conditions | 5-10 mph NE |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 30-35 degrees |
| Humidity | 44-51% |
