Hay Creek Fire
Community Meeting
Friday, July 30 at 6:00 pm Sondreson Hall Parking Lot (Bring a camp chair if you’d like)
You are invited to send questions to 2021.haycreek@firenet.gov or call 406-219-1013 by noon Friday.
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)
As of last night’s (July 28) infrared flight, the Hay Creek Fire was officially at 1945 acres (787ha). Here’s the imagery…
(PDF version of this document: 2021-07-28-HayCreek-FNF-Update.pdf)
On Tuesday, afternoon cloud cover moderated fire activity during the burn period for a second day. Downslope winds from the weather cell that moved through yesterday evening pushed the fire toward the Hay Creek Road on the southwest flank; today’s weather may provide an opportunity for firefighters to engage in firing operations to burn out the consumable fuels remaining between the Hay Creek Road and the perimeters of the main fire.
Crews were successful in laying approx. 7,000 feet of hose along the Hay Creek Road Tuesday, holding this line remains the priority objective for the current operational period. Heavy equipment task forces will continue work to widen existing roads to connect past silvicultural forest treatments and build contingency lines.
Monsoonal moisture from the southeast has led to increased humidity levels. However, weather trends are still seasonally hot and dry… active fire behavior will continue to be expected overnight.
The Flathead County Sheriff’s department has expanded the phased Evacuation Warning to 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 (NP) has issued an Evacuation Warning for the North Fork area of Glacier NP 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://go.usa.gov/xFjcC.
Continue reading Hay Creek Fire – Incident Update for July 28
Here’s the latest Hay Creek Fire Public Information Map showing fire extent, closures and current evacuation zone boundaries. The main change from yesterday’s map is the inclusion of a section of the Moose Creek drainage in the “Area Closure” zone . . .
PDF version: https://nflandowners.org/nflawp/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/July-28-2021-Hay-Creek-Fire-Map.pdf.
For North Forkers under pre-evacuation orders, here is some very good news from Pete Webster, Acting Superintendent, Glacier National Park. Short version: If you are under pre-evacuation orders, you can get a temporary permit at West Glacier that will let you travel both ways on the Camas Road.
Read on…
Here is a message to share with the North Fork community.
We have been communicating with the Hay Creek Fire Incident Team, Forest Service, and Flathead County on fire conditions and projections, as well as pre-evacuation warning needs. We recognize the pre-evacuation warning is an early notice for folks to prepare for actual evacuation. While actual evacuation may be days or weeks away, pre-evacuation may require several trips back and forth to North Fork properties. As such we have come up with a system to support pre-evacuation travel needs that includes Camas Road for North Fork residents within the pre-evacuation warning zone. Those qualifying residents who identify themselves at West Glacier as pre-evacuation residents will be issued a temporary permit at the West Entrance that will let them travel Camas Road each way. [emphasis added]
Residents do need to recognize that traffic at West Glacier will be heavy at times, MDT US-2 construction has been active at West Glacier, and the Camas Road construction has delays and may not be easy travel as well. My understanding is the fire incident will be grading and providing dust abatement on the bad section of the North Fork Road south of the Camas Bridge, beginning this weekend perhaps.
Monday-Thursday nighttime closures on Camas Road will remain in effect for public traffic 7pm-6am, including pre-evacuation travel for North Fork residents. Although do note, the fire incident team and the evacuation team are coordinated with the Camas construction, so the nighttime Camas closure can be adjusted to support emergency egress should that be necessary.
We are paying close attention and are in direct communication with all aspects of the Hay Creek Fire.
Thank you,
Pete Webster
Acting Superintendent
Glacier National Park
As of the infrared flight at 9:30pm last night (July 27), the Hay Creek Fire was officially at 1867 acres (756ha). Here’s the imagery…
Here’s a good summary of the wildland fires in the area . . .
Fire crews battling a 1,350-acre blaze near the community of Polebridge are working to keep the lightning-sparked fire hemmed in against Hay Creek Road and existing fuel breaks.
Dubbed the Hay Creek Fire for its location in the Hay Creek drainage west of the North Fork Flathead River and Glacier National Park, the fire was aided by cloud cover on Monday, when fire officials reported moderate activity and growth. The fire remained active on its west flank, however, exhibiting isolated and group tree torching, as well as short wind-driven crown runs.
Here’s the latest Hay Creek Fire Public Information Map showing fire extent, closures and current evacuation zone boundaries. The main change from yesterday’s map is the closure of Moose Creek Road…
PDF version: https://nflandowners.org/nflawp/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/July-27-2021-Hay-Creek-Fire-Map.pdf.
(PDF version of this document: 2021-07-27-HayCreek-FNF-Update.pdf)
On Monday, afternoon cloud cover moderated fire activity. The fire remained active on the west flank, exhibiting isolated and group tree torching and short wind-driven crown runs. The priority objective is holding the line at the Hay Creek Road. Crews are laying hose and will potentially initiate firing operations to burn the remaining available fuels along the road if conditions allow. Spot fires to the south of the road were checked by bucket drops for the second day. Heavy equipment task forces will continue work to widen existing roads to connect past silvicultural forest treatments and build contingency lines.
A new spot fire was detected on the lower third of the south facing aspect in front of the east flank, estimated at ¼ acre. The spot is expected to establish and burn out available fuels ahead of the main fire.
Active fire behavior will likely continue to be observed at night due to low humidity and warm evening temperatures.
The Flathead County Sheriff’s department has expanded the phased Evacuation Warning to 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 (NP) has issued an Evacuation Warning for the North Fork area of Glacier NP 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://go.usa.gov/xFjcC.
Continue reading Hay Creek Fire – Incident Update for July 27
“It’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good.” As part of the effort to fight the Hay Creek Fire, the Forest Service has come up with funding to grade and dust coat a particularly rough section of the North Fork Road.
According to a note from Travis Glidewell, Flathead County Road and Bridge Supervisor, the county is about to start grading and dust coating the North Fork Road between end-of-pavement and the Camas intersection. The prep work will be accomplished this week, with “dust oil” (i.e., magnesium chloride) being applied Saturday, July 31.