Goose Fire At 48% Containment

Size: 7,262

Percent Completion: 48%

Cause: Lightning

Resources Assigned:

• Total personnel: 252

• Engines: 18

• Helicopters: 2

• Hand crews: 1 type 2 initial attack crew and 2 type 2 crews.

CURRENT STATUS:

North of Otter Lake, crews conducted a small burn out operation to

contain a section of concentrated heat. Crews will "mop-up" residual heat

from the area today.

Heavy machinery completed line construction today southwest of Hoodoo

Pass and along Forest Service Trail 6410. The equipment will "walk out"

of this section of the fire in the next couple of days. The remainder of the

line into the West Fork Madison River will be completed by hand crews.

These lines will serve as the basis for future burnout operations to contain

the fire on the western flank.

Crews are systematically conducting isolated burn-out operations in block

sections within the Meridian Creek drainage. A helicopter has been

assisting ground crews with bucket drops in this area where the fire has

been active in heavy timber.

Crews continue to "mop-up" residual heat along all flanks of the fire.

WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR:

A RED FLAG WARNING is in effect today due to temperatures in the

80s with sunny conditions and relative humidity in the low teens. A

drying trend begins today; low relative humidity readings are predicted to

last several days. Overnight relative humidity recovery in the 40% range is

expected , resulting in earlier and longer burn periods.

Fuel moisture values are still unseasonably low, which may lead to burning

in fuels (like sage, grass and younger lodgepole pine) that were unavailable

to burn earlier in the week. With decreased cloud cover and higher

temperatures, previously undetected pockets of heat will be exposed for

crews to monitor and "mop-up." The fire is expected to grow in the

drainage along Two Drink Springs; however, it will likely not move up

the ridge in the next few days due to an avalanche chute in the area.

Heavy fuels will continue to smolder, with crown runs unlikely.

CLOSURES:

The Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest official closure information

can be found here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/bdnf/alerts-notices. The

Forest will monitor and re-evaluate the closure area, shrinking the

boundary as conditions become safe to do so. Fire-weakened trees are

susceptible to winds and pose a threat to firefighters and the public.

STAGE 2 FIRE RESTRICTIONS:

The Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest will implement Stage 2 Fire

Restrictions, effective at midnight tonight. All campfires and stove fires

(including charcoal barbecues and grills) will be prohibited. These

restrictions also affect smoking and the use of various internal combustion

engines.