Size: 6,258 (last IR flight 7/18)
Percent Completion: 21%
Resources Assigned:
• Total personnel: 308
• Engines: 18
• Helicopters: 2
• Hand crews: 3 type 1 hot shot crews, 1 type 2 initial attack crew and 2 type 2 crews
CURRENT STATUS:
There was no infrared mapping flight last night due to mechanical issues.
On the northwest edge of the fire, crews completed burn-out operations,
eliminating unburned fuels between the established fire line and the fire's
edge, south along the Jackpine Gulch Road and east toward the Cliff Lake
Bench. Ground crews, assisted by helicopters, were able to pick up and
suppress all hot spots across the line. The wide, constructed fuel breaks
successfully kept the majority of the fire on the ground and out of the tree
crowns. Crews will continue to monitor the fire's progress and hot spots in
heavy fuels along the lines in these areas.
Crews in the southwest were again successful in keeping the fire north of
Brimstone Trail, conducting burn out operations as necessary to stay in-
line with the fire's progression to the west. A heavy equipment task force
on this corner of the fire is constructing line east of Snowshoe Pass,
connecting to already established fireline along Brimstone Trail. Crews
assessed structures in West Fork Cow Camp, placing sprinklers and water
handling equipment as a precautionary measure.
In the east, crews continue to mop-up and secure the line, removing
residual heat and ensuring "cold black." Crews will deal with an area of
concentrated heat picked up by a previous overnight infrared flight; the
heat is interior to the constructed line. Extensive mop-up is needed, as
extremely dry fuels hinder the mop-up process.
WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR:
A RED FLAG WARNING is in effect from 12pm to 12am today due to
the threat of lightning and gusty, erratic outflow winds up to 45 mph.
Temperatures will climb to the lower 80s, with relative humidity around
20%. Winds from the southwest will be 10-20 mph, with stronger gusts in
the afternoon hours and around thunderstorms.
A better chance of thunderstorms and rain arrives in the evening hours
tonight. Stronger, move severe storms, with hail and wind gusts up to 50
mph, are possible tomorrow. A slight cooling trend, with a chance of
precipitation, follows.
Fire is expected to start carrying in the sagebrush as these fuels dry and
cure out. Short crown runs, group torching, and short-range spotting are
expected. The intensity and the rate of fire spread in the Meridian
drainage will likely increase, as winds pick up and the fire moves into an
area with thick pockets of continuous fuels. Broken, non-continuous fuels
and changes in topography are helping to slow fire spread in the far
southwest corner of the fire. The fire is likely to spread, especially where
winds and topography align with the heavier, continuous fuels.
CLOSURES:
The Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest official closure information
can be found here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/bdnf/alerts-notices.
STAGE 1 FIRE RESTRICTIONS:
The Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest is in Stage 1 Fire Restrictions.
Current restrictions information can be found at www.mtfireinfo.org
Comments