Alder Creek, Trail Creek, & Christensen Fire Updates 09/05/2021

TRAIL CREEK

Location: 20 miles West of Wisdom

Start date:July 8, 2021

Size: 40,736 acres (*IR mapping- 9/4)

Percent Complete: 58%

Cause: Lightning

Total personnel: 158

TRAIL CREEK FIRE:

A Red Flag warning has been issued over the fire area for high southwest winds and low relative humidity. This will cause fire activity to increase as the inversion lifts and the temperatures rise. Fire activity will remain active along the ridgeline between Three Mile Creek and Smithy Creek. Helicopters will continue to support ground crews with bucket drops. The hose lay and sprinkler system remains in place along Forest Service Road #808 in the Three Mile Creek and crews are pre-wetting vegetation in the area. Crews continue to implement the suppression repair plan, in consultation with agency resource advisors.

Saylor Creek and the area south of Highway 43 saw an increase in fire activity. That is expected to continue today, although fire behavior is expected to remain moderate. In addition, the fire activity in the Salix Creek and Rabbit Creek areas will remain the same- slowly moving towards the south. Impact to values at risk is not expected.

ALDER CREEK

Location: 7 miles west of Wise River

Start date: July 8, 2021

Size: 14,334 acres (*IR mapping- 9 /4)

Percent Complete: 24%

Cause: Lightning

Total personnel: 97

CHRISTENSEN

Location: 12 miles west of Wise River

Start date: July 16, 2021

Size: 11,987 acres (*IR mapping- 9 /4)

Percent Complete:20%

Cause: Lightning

Total personnel: 1

ALDER CREEK/CHRISTENSEN FIRE:

A majority of the heat and fire activity is located in the area between the Alder Creek fire and the Christensen fire. Fire managers can confirm that the two fires have connected between Turtle Rock and Bryant Creek. The fire will remain most active in the area between the two, and it is expected that they will full connect. Crews continue to implement suppression repair and monitor the large fuels smoldering in the interior of the fire. Resources are also assisting with operations on the Christensen fire.

SANDLAKE FIRE:

The team will continue to monitor fire activity on the Sandlake fire and updates will be posted as more information becomes available.

WEATHER/FIRE BEHAVIOR:

A Red Flag Warning has been issued over the fire area today for high winds, low relative

humidity and warm temperatures. The high-pressure ridge building over the area will flatten out on Sunday allowing for increasing westerly winds with gust in higher terrain potentially up to 25 mph. Conditions will be very dry with poor overnight relative humidity recoveries each day. These conditions will cause the fires to become more activate and fire growth is expected.

SAFETY:

Highway 43 and the Pioneer Scenic Byway are open to through traffic. Watch for increased

traffic with the holiday weekend and hunting season.

CLOSURES:

Portions of the Continental Divide Trail remain closed. The Big Hole National Battlefieldis

closed until further notice. May Creek Campground is closed.

Closure orders remain in effect on the Salmon-Challis National Forests, the Beaverhead- Deerlodge National Forest, and the Bureau of Land Management. View the updated closure

orders on the respective agency websites and the fires' Inciweb pages.