Cascade Fire 08/08/08 800 AM
Incident: Cascade Wildfire
Released: 8/8/2008
The Cascade Fire is six miles west of Red Lodge, Montana. Brad McBratney's Type 3 Fire Team Organization is fighting the fire. McBratney's team is also providing air support for the 380 acre Tumble Creek Fire approximately 40 miles to the west.
Stage 1 Fire restrictions are in effect throughout the Beartooth Ranger District. Call the Beartooth Ranger District for further information at (406) 446-2103.
Yesterday's Activities: Crews were busy mopping up and patrolling the northeast and south corners of the fire. Engine crews continued to snag hazard trees The north, west and southwest corner was patrolled from the air. Helicopter support was provided to the Tumble Creek Fire.
Today's Planned Activities: Crews will be improving and securing containment lines, mopping up, falling snags and patrolling for isolated hotspots. The northwest and southwest perimeters of the fire will be in air patrol status. Engine crews will patrol the West Fork road from Basin Creek trailhead west, continuing mop up and falling hazard trees.
Resources assigned: 3 hand crews, 2 engines, 1 dozer and 3 helicopters for a total of 139.
Weather and Fire Behavior: Forecast for Friday will be isolated thunderstorms in the morning, scattered wet thunderstorms in the afternoon. Maximum temperature is 80-85 in the bottom and 73-80 at the top. Minimum humidity will be 20-25 in the bottom and 25-30% at the top. Possible gusty, erratic winds to 40 mph with thunderstorms.
Evacuations, Closures: All evacuations for Grizzly Peak have been lifted. The Lake Fork Trail has been opened to Sundance Pass. The West Fork of Rock Creek roadblock at the forest boundary has been moved to Timbercrest. Cabin owners with property in Basin Creek will be allowed to go back to their cabins from 8:00 am until dark, but must present a current identification. Access to the ski area is prohibited. Due to the hazard created by standing burned trees next to the West Fork of Rock Creek Road, no travel will be permitted beyond the Basin Creek area until further notice. The Senia area is closed due to safety hazards. The Custer National Forest has issued a fire Area Closure order that includes most of the trails and back country in the West Fork drainage. Cabin owners in Lions Club Camp are allowed back in via Lake Fork Road per Beartooth Creek Ranger District direction.
Other information sources: http://www.inciweb.org/, http://www.nifc.gov/nicc/sitreprt.pdf or http://www.firewise.org/fw youcanuse/index.htmredlodge.com, www.fs.fed.us/r1/custer
Cooperating Agencies: Montana Highway Patrol, Carbon County Sheriff, Custer NF, BLM, NPS, BIA, FWS and Montana DNRC and VFD's from the surrounding area including Red Lodge, Roberts, Absarokee, Columbus, Joliet, and Belfry.
