County to start grading/dust coating lower North Fork Road this week

“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.

Expansion of evacuation warning issued for the Hay Creek Fire

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kalispell, MT, July 26, 2021 – Flathead County Sheriff’s Office has expanded the Evacuation Warning in the North Fork area. Sheriff Deputies have been systematically notifying residents in the expanded Evacuation Warning area over the weekend, and throughout today.

Please see the attached Hay Creek Fire Evacuation Warning Map dated 26JUL2021.

An Evacuation Warning means there is a potential threat to life and/or property. This warning is issued to give residents time to prepare for a possible evacuation. Residents & Visitors who require additional time to evacuate or need to move pets or livestock are advised to begin the evacuation process now.

Hay Creek Fire Evacuation Warning Map, July 26, 2021

Hay Creek Fire — goodies for firefighters

Several people have asked me how to do nice things for the folks working the Hay Creek Fire. Here’s the word from Diane Sine, the Fire Information Officer . . .

“There will be a fire camp set up by the West Glacier KOA starting tomorrow [July 27], and that would be the place folks could drop off any goodies. Everyone working up the North Fork will either be sleeping there or showing up there for briefings, whether day crews or night crews.”

“Firefighters also always appreciate thank you signs or posters, if that’s the sort of thing that anyone would enjoy making. In addition, if folks ever want to recognize firefighters, the organizations we steer them toward are their local volunteer fire departments and https://wffoundation.org/.”

Hay Creek Fire – updated Public Information Map

Here’s the latest Hay Creek Fire Public Information Map showing fire extent, closures and current evacuation zone boundaries . . .

Public Information Map - Hay Creek Fire, July 26, 2021 — Public Information Map – Hay Creek Fire, July 26, 2021

PDF version: https://nflandowners.org/nflawp/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/pio_11x17_land_20210725_1749_HayCreek_MTFNF000668_0726.pdf

Hay Creek Fire – Incident Update for July 26

(PDF version of this document: 2021-07-26-HayCreek-FNF-Update FINAL.pdf)

INCIDENT UPDATE

On Sunday the fire continued to back all the way down to the Hay Creek Road in several areas. The fire was most active on the west flank with isolated and group torching, and short wind-driven crown runs. Spot fires south of the Hay Creek Road were cooled down by bucket drops from a Type 1 helicopter.

The fire is anticipated to be active again today with the potential for large volumes of smoke from the west flank. A task force of heavy equipment will continue work to widen existing roads to connect past silvicultural forest treatments and build contingency lines. Firefighters will work to hold the Hay Creek Road and continue work with the Sheriff’s Department to identify needs and strengthen plans for structure protection.

EVACUATIONS

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 up 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.

CLOSURES

Road and trail closures have been put in place and have been expanded. See details at Inciweb: https://go.usa.gov/xFjcC.

WEATHER AND AIR QUALITY

Continue reading Hay Creek Fire – Incident Update for July 26

Possible critical fire weather this week

July 22, 2021 Hay Creek Fire from the air, 2 pm

We just got a note from the fire team about some critical fire weather coming up. It looks like conditions may kick off Monday afternoon, with high temperatures and elevated winds. Looks like maybe some thunderstorms next week, too.

See NWS Missoula Weather Briefing July 25 2021 – YouTube for video discussion and

https://www.weather.gov/wrh/fire?wfo=mso for the text forecast.

Hay Creek Fire – Incident Update for July 25

(PDF version of this document: 2021-07-25-HayCreek-FNF-Update FINAL.pdf)

INCIDENT UPDATE

Calmer winds led to less fire spread on Saturday. The fire slowly backed down to the Hay Creek Road. Two helicopters dropped water to help control fire spread, including on a new spot fire of lower intensity. Existing roads and timber units were tied together with dozer line to provide additional protection in the area of the Moran Basin Road #5241.

Today, resources will continue to reinforce shaded fuel breaks and use heavy equipment to tie together existing roads and fuel breaks to limit future fire growth. Crews will identify needs for possible structure protection.

EVACUATIONS

The Flathead County Sheriff’s department expanded the Evacuation Warning area. In addition, 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.

CLOSURES

Road and trail closures have been put in place. See details at Inciweb: https://go.usa.gov/xFjcC.

WEATHER AND AIR QUALITY

Continue reading Hay Creek Fire – Incident Update for July 25

Polebridge Mercantile provides WiFi hotspot during Hay Creek Fire

From this morning’s Facebook post . . .

The Mercantile has posted our wifi password to the fire information board in Polebridge. This network will be available and free to the public for the duration of the fire event. Thanks Will.

Hay Creek Fire now estimated at 1160 acres

The Hay Creek Fire is now just under 1160 acres (470ha) and has reached, and even crossed, the Hay Creek Road at a few spots . . .

Hay Creek Fire at 1160 acres, July 24, 2021

Hay Creek Fire – Incident Update for July 24

(PDF version of this document: 2021-07-24-HayCreek-FNF-Update FINAL.pdf)

INCIDENT UPDATE

The Hay Creek fire grew to over 1,006 acres Friday afternoon and is currently 4 miles west of Polebridge. The fire is burning in heavy decadent timber on steep slopes of the Hay Creek and South Fork Red Meadow drainages. Single and group tree torching, short-range spotting, and short crown runs occurred throughout the afternoon. This moderate fire behavior combined with the heavy timber fuel type resulted in substantial smoke production. The fire is more active on drier south-facing slopes and under wind influence, but moderates on north-facing slopes. Today firefighting resources including heavy equipment and hand-crews will continue brushing out roads and improving fuel breaks on the Hay Creek, Red Meadow, and Spruce Creek Roads.

EVACUATIONS

The Flathead County Sheriff’s department issued 20 pre-evacuation notices to structures in the vicinity of the Hay Creek Fire on Wednesday, July 22. See details at Inciweb: July 22, 2021 Evacuation Warning

CLOSURES

Road and trail closures are in place. See details at Inciweb: Flathead National Forest Closure Order

WEATHER AND AIR QUALITY

Continue reading Hay Creek Fire – Incident Update for July 24