Tin Cup Fire Update -- August 9, 2007
Incident: Tin Cup Fire Wildland Fire
Released: 8/9/2007
FIRE UPDATE: Tin Cup Fire
Bitterroot National Forest
August 9, 2007 @ 8:00am
Fire Information:
(406) 821-4247
www.inciweb.org/, or
Location: 4 miles west of Darby, Montana
Date and Time of Fire Start: August 5 at 3:47 p.m. Cause: Under Investigation
Fuels: Timber (Ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir)
Cooperating Agencies: Darby Rural FD; Hamilton Volunteer FD, other local area rural FDs, Ravalli County Sheriff & OEM Departments, town of Darby, Darby School District, Montana DNRC, Bitterroot RC&D, Forest Service (USFS), and local government
Estimated Fire Size: 520 Acres Injuries to Date: 2 minor
Estimated Fire Containment: 40% Estimated Expected Containment: TBD
Committed Resources: 240 total personnel that include 8 Fire Crews, 9 Engines, 3 Dozers, 15 Water Tenders, shared Helicopters and Air Tankers, and fire support personnel
Structures Threatened: 100 Structures Damaged: 0 Structures Destroyed: 0
Fire Activity: Active aggressive ground fire, tree torching, and short crown fires with increased winds have been reported. Variable winds and fuel conditions contributed to active backing fire behavior.
Past and Current Events: Firefighters are reviewing and evaluating the structure protection and evacuation status to determine if current fire conditions warrant any change. Fire crews will continue to reinforce current containment lines by replacing current indirect line with as much direct line as possible that can be accomplished safely. Crews will begin to mop-up fire hotspots within 50 feet of the fire perimeter. Initial attack of any new fire starts within the fire's temporary flight restriction will utilize local firefighter resources.
Closures: Tin Cup Road is closed at the USFS boundary; Bunkhouse Road is closed at the end of the pavement; Forest Road #550 is closed below the horse camp at Lake Como; and an area closure was put in place late Tuesday afternoon for the immediate fire area. Visitors are reminded that the Bitterroot National Forest in is Stage 2 fire restrictions which include no campfires and no smoking outside of a vehicle or building -- except in cleared, designated areas.
Evacuations: Due to active fire behavior, evacuation orders were previously issued (Stage 2) for approximately 37 homes off of upper Bunkhouse Road, Snowy Mountain Road, View Road 3400, Almosta Road, Stags Leap Road, Cerro Gordo Road, Camp 4 Road, upper end of McIntosh Lane, and upper Tin Cup Road. Approximately 47 homes along Ravenwood Road, Northstar Drive, Base Camp Road, Elk Range Way, Moose Meadow Lane, lower part of McIntosh Lane, Singing Pines Road, Mt. Zion Loop, and Wright Way are in evacuation standby (Stage 1). All previous orders remain the same but will be evaluated today for any changes.
Remarks: NorCal Team II continues to manage the fire for the Bitterroot NF. Structure protection is in place with coordination with the local rural fire departments. Federal, state, county, and local agencies are working together and providing assistance in containing the fire. Larry Svalberg's Incident Management Team, from nearby Rombo Mountain Fire, continues to share fire suppression resources with the Tin Cup Fire.
A fire update and community meeting is planned for Thursday, August 9 at 7:00pm at the Darby Club House.
###
