Tumble Creek 08/06/08 7:30 PM
Incident: Tumble Creek Wildland Fire
Released: 8/6/2008
Start: Afternoon of August 1, 2008. Probable Cause: Lightning
Tom Heintz's Type 2 Northern Rockies Incident Management Team has been assigned to manage the fire. The information number for the incident is 406-328 4958, and 406-328 4959.
Location: Near Tumble Creek, in the West Fork of the Stillwater River drainage approximately 8 miles west of Woodbine Campground, and one mile south of the Absaroka/Beartooth Wilderness boundary. Today clear, dry and calm conditions throughout the morning changed as a monsoonal moisture pattern arrived mid-afternoon. Increased cloud cover caused the fire to be fairly inactive with smoldering, creeping and occasinal single tree touching fire behavior. The winds today were south east at seven miles per hour. Temperatures were 82 with relative humidity at 23%.
Three type 1 crews are on the fire and spiked out. Potential for fire growth is medium and the difficulty of the terrain is extreme. No structures are at risk presently. Three heavy helicopters assisted suppression crews by dropping water on the fire. Air tankers flew retardant to the fire and the mobile retardant plant was set up.
Personnel: 145 personnel are currently assigned to the fire. There are three crews, 3 helicopters and 2 water tenders assigned to the fire.
Size: 620 Acres, there is 60% containment. Unless there is an unexpected wind event, continment is likely 8/8/08.
Closure: An area and road closure is in place in the West Fork of the Stillwater road,FS road #846 and Picket Pin road #2140. In addition the Custer National Forest has issued a fire area closure that includes Trails # 20, 72 and 90 as well as the Initial Creek Campground. The Woodbine campground and trail is open.
Information regarding the Tumble Creek Fire is available at http://www.inciweb.org/.
