Author: Bill Walker

Hay Creek Fire – Incident Update for July 23

Please note that there is a community meeting Saturday, July 24th at 6:00PM.  The meeting will take place at the Sondreson Community Hall parking lot.

Incident Update

Resources on scene observed active fire behavior through the night. The fire is burning in the Hay Creek drainage in the North Fork of the Flathead National Forest and is being managed for full suppression. Due to safety concerns associated with steep terrain, thick timber, and current fuel conditions, fire managers are using indirect tactics. Today firefighters will continue brushing out roads and improving fuel breaks on the Hay Creek, Red Meadow, and Spruce Creek Roads, as assessing the need for future structure protection

Fire command transitioned to a Type 3 Incident Management Team 6am Friday morning, July 23, 2021.

 EVACUATIONS / STRUCTURES THREATENED

The Flathead County Sheriff’s department issued 20 pre-evacuation notices to structure in vicinity of the Hay Creek Fire on Wednesday. See associated pre-evacuation notice.

Weather Continue reading Hay Creek Fire – Incident Update for July 23

Hay Creek Fire – Evacuation Warning Issued by Flathead County Sheriff’s Office

From the Hay Creek Fire InciWeb site . . .

Flathead County Sheriff’s Office issued an Evacuation Warning to residences in the North Fork Area earlier today [July 22, 2021]. The Evacuation Warning area begins at approximately the Gravel Pit North of Polebridge, including residents accessing their home from Long Bow Trail, and follows the North Fork Road up to Red Meadow Road, then extends West. The Evacuation Warning also includes residents on the North side of Red Meadow Road. Please see the attached Hay Creek Fire Evacuation Warning Map dated 22JUL2021.

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.

July 22, 2021 Hay Cr. Fire Evacuation Warning Map
July 22, 2021 Hay Cr. Fire Evacuation Warning Map

Hay Creek Fire Inciweb site now online

Hay Creek Fire From Huckleberry LO, July 22, 2021
Hay Creek Fire From Huckleberry LO, July 22, 2021

All right! The Inciweb site for the Hay Creek Fire is on the air. It is still not fully populated, but already has some useful information, including the fact that a Type 3 management team takes over Friday morning.

https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7712/
July 22, 2021 Hay Creek Fire Closure Map D07113S21
July 22, 2021 Hay Creek Fire Closure Map D07113S21

Pre-evacuation notifications in progress – Hay Creek Fire

From a Moose Creek resident…

Sheriff was just here. They are focusing Red Meadow to Hay Creek today just to say what is going on. They will reassess tomorrow and head up Whale and Moose Creek. They may close the NF to non landowners in 3 or 4 days. Of course short of helicopters and crew but lots of fire engines, grading NF road as well. He said spread the word.

 

Stage II Fire Restrictions Implemented across NW Montana

Note that the fire danger in Flathead County is now rated at Extreme.
This press release is also downloadable in PDF format…

Northern Rockies Coordination Group
Northwest Montana Area
For Immediate Release: July 22, 2021

Stage II Fire Restrictions Implemented across NW Montana

Kalispell, MT, July 22, 2021 — Interagency fire managers agreed to implement Stage II Fire Restrictions that will go into effect at 12:01am Monday, July 26th, 2021 across the Flathead National Forest, Glacier National Park,  Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks sites, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Kalispell, Stillwater, and Swan Units, and Flathead County.

Continue reading Stage II Fire Restrictions Implemented across NW Montana

Hay Creek Fire – first press release and initial fire information

The Hay Creek Fire started brewing up yesterday, July 21, on top of the ridge along the north edge of the Hay Creek Drainage (see map below). The Forest Service dispatched assets to fight this fire in the late afternoon. By evening, it was about 50-60 acres in extent. According to early morning radio chatter, the fire laid down overnight but was starting to pick back up. Here is the first press release regarding the Hay Creek Fire, sent out yesterday evening at abut 10:00pm. You can also download it as a PDF.

Updated food storage restrictions for Flathead National Forest

From the press release. (See also the official order, which is much more detailed and contains supporting material.)

Sow grizzly bear spotted near Camas in northwestern Montana. - Montana FWPKalispell, MT, July 19, 2021—The Flathead National Forest has updated the existing food storage restrictions for all Flathead National Forest lands outside of the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex and reminds the public to be bear aware.  The updated order can be found on the Flathead National Forest website. The intent of food storage restrictions is to reduce the likelihood of a bear getting into unsecured food and garbage.  Bears can become food conditioned if they receive a food reward.  Food conditioned bears can lead to an increase in conflicts between humans and bears, which compromises the safety of both.

The order requires all attractants to be stored in an acceptable manner when unattended.  Attractants can include, but are not limited to;

  • Human Food
  • Garbage
  • Pet Food
  • Livestock Feed

Acceptable methods of food storage include;

  • Secured in a hard-sided recreational vehicle, vehicle trunk, trailer cab, or dwelling
  • Suspended at least 10 feet up and four feet out from an upright support
  • Stored in an approved bear-resistant container
  • Stored within an approved and operating electric fence

As always, there is inherent risk to recreating in bear country and it is vital that everyone does their part to be Bear Aware and Recreate Responsibly.  It is often said, “a fed bear is a dead bear.”  Please don’t be responsible for a bear becoming conditioned by receiving human food rewards. For more information on approved bear-resistant containers please visit the Flathead National Forest website.

Fire restrictions updated for NW Montana; Flathead County at Stage I Saturday

Here we go again. Note that the fire danger in Flathead County is rated at Very High. From the official press release . . .

Northern Rockies Coordination Group
Northwest Montana Area
For Immediate Release: July 15, 2021
Fire Restrictions Updated for NW Montana

Kalispell, MT, July 15, 2021 — Interagency fire managers agreed to implement Stage I Fire Restrictions that will go into effect at 12:01am Saturday, July 17th, 2021 across the Flathead National Forest, Glacier National Park, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Kalispell, Stillwater, and Swan Units, and Flathead County.

Interagency fire managers are implementing Stage II Fire Restrictions that will go into effect at 12:01am Saturday, July 17th, 2021 across the Kootenai National Forest, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Libby Unit, Sanders and Lake County lands.

Interagency fire managers are implementing Stage II Fire Restrictions that will go into effect at 12:00am Friday, July 16th, 2021 across Lincoln County lands.

Continue reading Fire restrictions updated for NW Montana; Flathead County at Stage I Saturday

Fire and Smoke Map

Fire & Smoke Map snippetWith fire season fast approaching, this is a nice find. This very handy map showing fires, air quality and smoke plumes is part of the U.S. EPA’s “AirNow” air quality website. Use this link for a map centered on Columbia Falls, MT: https://fire.airnow.gov/?lat=48.3637&lng=-114.1893&zoom=7#. Or you can find it on the NFPA’s “Wildfire Information” page.