Bear Gulch Fire Update for 8-23-2008
Incident: Bear Gulch Wildland Fire
Released: 8/23/2008
Update
Bear Gulch Fire
August 23, 2008
Start Date: August 18, 2008 Contact: Gary Hoshide, Information Officer
Phone: (406) 266-4666
Cause: Under investigation.
Location: Twelve miles east of Townsend and north of U.S. Highway 12.
Current Size: 755 acres Containment: 91 %
Camp Tours: The public is invited to afternoon tours of fire camp today. Tours will begin at 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.. The camp is located at the Broadwater County Fairgrounds, east of Townsend. Please check-in with camp security at the main entrance to the camp.
Resources Assigned: Jess Secrest's Type 2 Northern Rockies Incident Management Team is managing the fire and 270 firefighters and support personnel are assigned to the incident. Two helicopters are assigned.
Closures: All area and roads east of the Broadwater County Road/North Fork of Deep Creek Rd (423) to the point where the road crosses between T7N, R4E, sections 7 and 8. Then directly east approx. ¼ mile to the North Fork of Deep Creek. Then along the south bank of the North Fork of Deep Creek to the point where the stream intersects the section line between sections 9 and 10 in T7N, R4E. Then south along this section line for approximately 1.5 miles to its intersection with Forest Road 4181 (West Fork Cabin Gulch Road). Then south on Forest Road 4181 to its intersection with Forest Road 423 (East Fork of Cabin Gulch Road). Then all lands west of Forest Road 423 to its junction with US Highway 12 (FS 423 remains open). Then west from Forest Road 423 to the Forest boundary at mile marker 14. The closure applies to National Forest System Lands administered by the Helena National Forest.
Current Status: Good progress has been made in fireline construction directly along the fire's edge. Hand crews completed fireline around the fire yesterday.
Planned Actions: Today, firefighting crews will continue mopping up100 % of burning fuels within 120 to 300 feet inside completed fireline. Helicopters will continue to support firefighter efforts. Suppression rehabilitation to reduce soil erosion will also continue to be applied to burned areas.
Weather: Mostly sunny. Temperatures for today are expected to be in the mid 80's with relative humidity of 13-18 %. Winds are forecasted to be up-slope/up-valley at 3 to 5 mph, turning to southwest at 6 to 12 mph later in the day.
Remarks: Motorists are asked to slow to 35 mph on Highway 12 near the fire area due to fire vehicle traffic and blind corners. With warmer weather returning over area, the forest fire danger remains high.
Cooperating Agencies: Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), Broadwater County, U.S. Forest Service.
For further information, please contact http://www.inciweb.org/.
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