Wednesday, August 11, 6:00 pm in the Sondreson Hall Parking Lot
You are invited to send questions to 2021.haycreek@firenet.gov or call 406-219-1013 by noon Wednesday.
For further Hay Creek Fire information, please visit: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7712/ or call the info line at 406-219-1013 (8 am to 8 pm).
Thursday’s activities focused on a second test firing operation in the southeast edge to tie in with the existing avalanche chute. Heavy equipment was used to reinforce fuel breaks in the Spruce Creek area. There continues to be areas of intense heat along the whole perimeter of the fire, and up high on the ridges and on the western flank.
Crews will work today toward expanding containment along the Hay Creek Road. Equipment will be working in the Spruce Creek area. Historic fuel breaks are being tied together to make a contiguous line east of the fire. Interagency fire crews will work with the public in the evacuation warning area to reduce fuels and protect structures. Public landowners are also working to create defensible space around their homes. Information on this process can be found at Creation and Maintenance of the Home Ignition Zone. (mt.gov)
As we approach the weekend and increased traffic, travelers need to have a heightened awareness to drive defensively, due to fire traffic and road construction in the area. Montana is experiencing EXTREME fire danger; Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are in effect with campfires prohibited. Know Before You Go- Visit www.mtfireinfo.org for additional Montana fire restrictions.
Evacuation Warnings include all residences east and west of the North Fork Road from Home Ranch Bottoms north to and including Moose Creek Road and the community of Polebridge. Glacier National Park has issued an Evacuation Warning for the North Fork area of Glacier National Park north of Logging Creek. See details at https://go.usa.gov/xFjcA and Current Fire Information – Glacier National Park.
Road and trail closures are in place. See details at Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/7712/62192/.
Continue reading Hay Creek Fire – Incident Update for August 6
As of last night’s (August 5) flight, the Hay Creek Fire was at a calculated 2743 acres (1110ha) based on the infrared image. This is up about 69 acres from the previous estimate . . .
Here’s the latest Hay Creek Fire Public Information Map showing fire extent, closures and current evacuation zone boundaries . . .
PDF version: https://nflandowners.org/nflawp/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Public-Information-Map-for-August-6-2021.pdf
The Hay Creek Fire burned actively in dead and down fuels producing increasing smoke on Wednesday, but movement was minimal. A second heavy equipment task force arrived to help assist with operations in the Spruce Creek area. Structure protection personnel and a helitack crew completed structure wrapping of the Coal Ridge Cabin, a remote historic structure without road access. Crews are now staying in the new spike camps in the Home Ranch Bottoms/Cyclone area.
Today, crews will continue to secure and connect an avalanche slope on the west end of the fire with Hay Creek Road #376. Other personnel will scout areas north and south of the fire for additional contingency lines. Fuel reduction continues along the southern edge of the fire and on primary and contingency lines between the fire and private lands to the east and northeast. Fire personnel will continue to be in the community sharing information and planning for structure protection.
Travelers need use extra caution in driving due to fire traffic and road construction in the area. Most of Montana is experiencing EXTREME fire danger; Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are in effect with campfires prohibited. Know Before You Go- Visit www.mtfireinfo.org for additional Montana fire restrictions.
Evacuation Warnings include all residences east and west of the North Fork Road from Home Ranch Bottoms north to and including Moose Creek Road and the community of Polebridge. Glacier National Park has issued an Evacuation Warning for the North Fork area of Glacier National Park north of Logging Creek. See details at https://go.usa.gov/xFjcA and Current Fire Information – Glacier National Park.
Road and trail closures are in place. See details at Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/7712/62192/.
WEATHER AND AIR QUALITY Continue reading Hay Creek Fire – Incident Update for August 5
Here’s the latest Hay Creek Fire Public Information Map showing fire extent, closures and current evacuation zone boundaries . . .
[Updated at 11am to show the location of the containment line along Hay Creek Road.]
Jay Nichols, the Public Information Officer with the Type 2 fire team passed along an updated version of their fire history map showing the current Hay Creek Fire boundaries…
PDF Version: https://nflandowners.org/nflawp/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/North-Fork-Fire-History-Map-August-5-2021.pdf
As of last night’s (August 4) flight, the Hay Creek Fire was still at a calculated 2677 acres (1083ha) based on the infrared image . . .
Just received via email from Jack Wise, the Hay Creek Fire Fire team Liaison Officer…
I would like to reach out once again to our cooperators and stakeholders for a request for radio operators. We are looking for folks that know how to use a radio and would like to volunteer (possible pay) to assist us in our communications for the Hay Creek Fire at our Incident Base camp. For more information, please contact our Communications leader, Terry Brinson at 208 510-8331 (interopflorida@gmail.com).
There was minimal growth to the fire on Tuesday, as fire activity was tempered by cooler temperatures and higher humidity levels. Smoke continued to be produced on both the east and west sides of the fire, and an infrared scan detected heat around the entire fire perimeter. The Incident Management Team began establishing two spike camps for approximately 100 firefighters in the Home Ranch Bottoms area to reduce travel time to the fire, reducing fatigue and increasing efficiency in operations as crews anticipate future fire fighting needs to control this “sleeping giant.”
Crews will be flown to the Coal Ridge Cabin today to evaluate needs for structure protection and the possible use of structure wrap to protect the historic structure in the event it is reached by fire. Crews are establishing temporary stream crossings to allow fire fighting vehicles to continue to move west on Hay Creek Road #376.
Both hand crews and heavy equipment continue to expand and improve primary and contingency lines in the Spruce Creek and Red Meadow areas. The structure protection group continues to work with local agencies to develop the structure protection plan.
Please exercise caution when driving in the area due to fire fighting traffic and equipment. Most of Montana is experiencing EXTREME fire danger; Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are in effect. Know Before You Go- Visit www.mtfireinfo.org for Montana fire restrictions.
Evacuation Warnings include all residences east and west of the North Fork Road from Home Ranch Bottoms north to and including Moose Creek Road and the community of Polebridge. Glacier National Park has issued an Evacuation Warning for the North Fork area of Glacier National Park north of Logging Creek. See details at https://go.usa.gov/xFjcA and Current Fire Information – Glacier National Park.
Road and trail closures are in place. See details at Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/7712/62192/.
Continue reading Hay Creek Fire – Incident Update for August 4