Fire Update for 8-7-2008
Incident: Russian Flats Wildland Fire
Released: 8/7/2008
News Update
Russian Flats
Fire
August 7, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Gary Hoshide Phone: 406-423-5457
Fire Start: August 2, 2008 Cause: Lightning
Total Acres: 639 acres Containment: 53 percent
Fire History: The Russian Flats Fire is located 10 miles southwest of Sapphire Village, and 27 miles southwest of Stanford, MT on the Judith Ranger District of the Lewis and Clark National Forest. The fire, which started by lightning on August 2, is mapped at 639 acres. Good progress has been made towards containing the fire. On Wednesday, crews used fireline explosives to build over a mile of fireline through steep, rugged terrain. The estimated date of containment is August 10th.
Today's Operations: Crews will finish constructing fireline to secure the east flank. Handline construction on the north flank will continue. Continue working on hotspots around the fire perimeter with water bucket support from helicopters.
Personnel on Fire: 255 firefighters are currently assigned to the incident including "hot shot" and initial attack crews, a helitack module, and various support personnel.
Equipment on Fire: Fire operations are supported by two helicopters.
Closures: The South Fork Judith Road (County Road 1 and Forest Service Road 487) is closed from its junction with Forest Road 825 south to its junction with Corral Creek (Forest Road 274).
Those National Forest lands, roads, and trails within the area bounded by the following description: Beginning at the confluence of the Middle Fork and South Fork of the Judith River, continuing upstream along the Middle Fork of the Judith River in a generally westward direction to its confluence with the Lost Fork of the Judith River, then continuing along the Lost Fork of the Judith River upstream in a generally southwesterly direction to it's intersection with Burris Trail (Forest Trail # 433), then southward along the Burris trail to the trail's intersection with Forest Road # 821 in the vicinity of Holiday Camp, then continuing along Forest Road # 821 in a generally southward direction to the road's intersection with the South Fork of the Judith River, and then following the South Fork of the Judith River downstream in a generally northeast direction to the South Fork's confluence with the Middle Fork of the Judith River.
Fire Weather: Mostly sunny and warmer, with chance of afternoon thunderstorms. The forecasted temperature is 82 to 92 degrees with relative humidity of 17 to 27 percent. Winds will be from the east up to 15 miles per hour in the afternoon.
Special Remarks: Fire activity may increase today with the higher temperatures.
Indian Hill Fire: The Indian Hill fire is 100 percent contained and in aerial patrol status.
Additional fire information, closure orders, and maps are available at http://www.inciweb.org/.
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