Red Eagle Daily Fire Fact Sheet for August 18.
Incident:
Released: 8/18/2006
RED EAGLE FIRE INFORMATION FACT SHEET DATE: August 18, 2006 TIME: 8:00 am INFORMATION OFFICER: Pat McKelvey PHONE: 406-732-4009 LOCATION: Blackfeet Reservation and Glacier National Park, near St. Mary, MT. CAUSE: Under Investigation. JURISDICTION: Blackfeet Tribe and National Park Service INCIDENT COMMANDER: Tom Heintz COOPERATING AGENCIES: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Blackfeet Tribe, Glacier County & Glacier National Park RESOURCES: PERSONNEL: 184 HELICOPTERS: 1 ENGINES: 7 AIR TANKERS: 0 BULLDOZERS: 4 WATERTENDERS: 0 CURRENT SITUATION: The fire is mapped at 32,250 acres, is 85% contained and fire cost to date is estimated at $6,873,000. The majority of visible smoke is located in the upper western basins which are extremely difficult to access. Residents and visitors to the park will continue to see occasional burning and smoke as the fire consumes unburned fuel and some hot spots ignite. Any fire activity will be limited by topography in the upper regions of Red Eagle, Medicine Owl and Hudson Bay Creek drainages. Crews are rehabilitating dozer lines. The Glacier National Park Visitors Center s evacuation order was rescinded and their employees were allowed to return. Snags, trees identified as possible safety hazards, were flagged for removal on highway 89. Highway signs are being replaced. USGS determined locations for stream flow monitoring equipment. The BAER (Burn Area Emergency Rehabilitation) Team continued to meet with Tribal and Park representatives. Hoses and equipment were being removed from the fire area. Weather is warming and will continue to warm with possible record setting highs. Weather for the 18th is expected to be 72-78 degrees during the day, with 34% humidity and 5-10 mph winds. Drivers are reminded NOT to stop in the fire zone, with the exception of graveled turnouts. All side roads off the fire area are closed to public travel due to fire fighters and fire equipment in the area. A 35 mph speed limit is in effect for Highway 89 south of St. Mary through this zone and near the Fire Camp. Approximately 47% (14,965 acres) of the fire is on Blackfeet Tribal Trust Lands, 53% (17,222 acres) is in Glacier National Park, and less than 1%, (43 acres) of the fire is on private land within the Blackfeet Nation. ACTIONS PLANNED: Mopping up of hot spots and smokes will continue. Snags will be removed along highway 89 that were flagged the prior day. A crew will be taken by boat assigned to cold trail and mop up from the shore of St Mary Lake to higher elevation rock outcrops. The assigned Helicopter is available for dousing hot spots, removing equipment and ferrying personnel. Local officials from the Blackfeet Tribe, the National Park Service and Bureau of Indian Affairs will be flown over the fire to review the fire condition in preparation for assuming management of the fire. Twenty-four hour monitoring of streams and rivers will continue. SPECIAL CONCERNS: Native American cultural sites are of concern for protection from the fire and mop up efforts. Fire within Blackfeet Tribal and Trust Lands has substantial economic impacts due to loss of timber and rangeland forage. Limited access and steep terrain within Glacier National Park will allow spotty burns on the eastern flanks and they will continue to challenge suppression efforts. Weekend weather could break record highs. FIRE RESTRICTIONS in Glacier County: campfires are prohibited outside of designated campgrounds; smoking is prohibited except within a vehicle or building, unless within a 3 foot area cleared of all vegetation. In Glacier National Park: There is a ban on building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire or campfire in the backcountry of Glacier National Park and in the frontcountry campgrounds at Quartz Creek and Cutbank. Liquid petroleum and LPG stoves are permissible. In addition, smoking is prohibited in the backcountry, including all areas beyond a trailhead. Information about Glacier National Park is available at www.nps.gov/glac or by calling (406) 888-7800. Information on this incident can also be found on the internet at www.inciweb.org .
