Bielenburg Fire Update July 25, 2009
Incident: Bielenburg Fire Wildfire
Released: 7/25/2009
Bielenburg Fire Update
July 25, 2009
Start date: July 12, 2009; discovered July 19
Cause: Lightning
Contact: Clare Delaney, Information Officer
Phone: 406-693-7608, cell 406-544-1084
Location: 10 miles north of Anaconda, 9 miles southwest of Deer Lodge.
Current Size: 177 Acres on the Pintler Ranger District, Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest
Resources Assigned: Approximately 94 firefighters and support personnel are assigned to the incident along with one helicopters and two fire engines.
Closures: An area closure is in effect for the National Forest Lands generally within the Dempsey, Racetrack, and Bielenberg drainages for public safety reasons. See Closure Order No. 2009-D8-021 for specific location descriptions.
Racetrack Campground and Racetrack Rental Cabin will remain unavailable until the fire danger subsides. The Forest Service conveys its apologies to the public for this inconvenience.
Current Status: The transfer of command to a smaller organization occurred at 6:00 a.m. Friday morning. The new team organization, commanded by Mike Fritsen, will continue managing the fire and support about 40 firefighters, two fire engines, and one helicopter.
The north, east, and south flanks of the fire are considered contained. This means that a fuel break has been established in those areas and the spread of the fire in that direction has been stopped.
Planned Actions: It was decided by the district ranger Charlene Bucha Gentry to manage this fire under a long-term implementation plan to achieve resource benefit objectives, while at the same time providing the necessary action to protect the values at risk. Friday afternoon, fire managers met with the affected County Commissioners to receive a report on long-term management options, answer questions, and discuss options for future management of the uncontained western flank.
Construction of fireline to check fire spread to the north and south of the fire began this morning. This allows crews the best opportunity to keep the fire spread continuing to the west while protecting the north, south, and east flanks.
Safety Concerns: The fire is burning in mountain pine beetle-killed lodgepole pine in steep, rocky terrain. Numerous snags create a safety hazard.
Weather: Unsettled weather is expected to bring more thunderstorms to the area. Today, the expected high over the fire area will be 80-90 degrees with 25-35% relative humidity. Winds are expected to be light and variable. There is a chance of thunderstorms through the weekend.
Cooperating Agencies: Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), Powell County, U.S. Forest Service.
For further updates, please visit the national incident web site: www.inciweb.org
