Packer Meadows Fire Update – 7/30
Incident: Packer Meadows Fire Wildfire
Released: 7/30/2010
Missoula, MT. July 30, 2 p.m. - Firefighters continue to improve and construct fireline on the Packer Meadows Fire, which has not grown beyond approximately 105 acres. Firefighters are also mopping up and putting out hotspots up to 75 feet inside the fire perimeter in some areas. Firefighters have also been able to establish an excavator line near a portion of the northeast end of the perimeter. The fire remains at approximately 50 percent containment. Firefighters are also focusing their attention on several spot fires outside the fire perimeter. Most of those spot fires are to the north of the perimeter. Fire managers remain concerned about significant growth potential during burning periods given the heavy fuel loading, high temperatures and low humidity that currently exists. Fire managers also want to stress to the public the importance of putting out all campfires before leaving a campsite - and to never leave a campfire unattended. Approximately fifty percent of initial attack fires this year on the Lolo National Forest have been human-caused fires, many of them occurring over weekends when more people are in the forest. The predominant fire behavior observed over the last 24 hours on the Packer Meadows Fire continues to be creeping and smoldering ground fire. The fire continues to consume fuel in the interior, and is burning in dense lodgepole pine stands, with heavy dead and downed fuel. Resources committed to the fire include: Three helicopters Five crews 16 Smokejumpers Three closure orders remain in place to ensure public safety. The orders close to the public the following: Lee Creek Campground approximately two miles south of Lolo Hot Spring North Lost Park Road (#2194) approximately three miles northeast of Lolo Pass at its junction with road # 2195 Lee Ridge Trail #295 at the beginning of the trail three miles south of Lolo Hot Springs to the Montana/Idaho border For additional information on the closure orders please see the Packer Meadows Fire incident at: http://www.inciweb.org/incident/2040/ Approximately 140 people are assigned to the suppression of the fire, which was lightning-caused. No structures or property are threatened by the fire. For additional information please call (406) 329-1024.
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