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Hay Creek Fire – Incident Update for August 9

INCIDENT UPDATE

An inch of rain fell across the fire over the weekend. Crews are using mechanical equipment to reduce fuels along the Spruce Creek Road and reinforcing shaded fuel breaks being used as contingency lines. Hand prep work is being done along the Red Meadow Road to use as an egress route in case of an evacuation in the area south of the fire. Aircraft did not fly yesterday due to weather.

No additional fire spread was seen on Sunday due to rain. Today the fire will continue to be active only in more sheltered areas that received less moisture, with heavy fuels that are still holding heat. A recon flight is scheduled to happen today to assess the fire. Resources at risk, including private structures and cultural and natural resources in both the Park and Forest continue to be assessed and protected. There will be a community meeting at the Sondreson Hall on Wednesday, August 11, at 6:00 pm.

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.

EVACUATIONS

Evacuation Warnings include all residences east and west of the North Fork Road from Home Ranch Bottoms north to 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 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 9

Hay Creek Fire – Incident Update for August 8

INCIDENT UPDATE

The Hay Creek Road fireline held well yesterday with the increased winds. Efforts continued to secure the more active SW edge of the fire along an avalanche chute, with a crew working this area Saturday. Some increased fire activity was seen yesterday in both edges of the fire off the Hay Creek Road, due to winds and low humidity. Strategies for fire suppression have kept fire growth minimal with 150 acres added to the fire area in the last two days.

Today crews will be improving line on the north end of the Spruce Creek area. Contingency line running north to south have been completed to the east of the fire, from the Cyclone peak area to just south of Spruce Creek. Helicopter bucket drops were again used to cool the SE area of the fire that continues to hold heat.

There are around 280 structures in the Polebridge community that are being mapped for evacuation planning purposes. There will be a community meeting at the Sondreson Hall on Wednesday, August 11, 6:00 pm.

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.

EVACUATIONS

Evacuation Warnings include all residences east and west of the North Fork Road from Home Ranch Bottoms north to 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 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 8

Hay Creek Fire – updated Public Information Map for August 8

Here’s the latest Hay Creek Fire Public Information Map showing fire extent, closures and current evacuation zone boundaries. Note that containment is up slightly at 23%. The fire grew a bit yesterday and is now 2894 acres (1171ha), 191 acres larger than the previous official estimate . . .

PDF version: https://nflandowners.org/nflawp/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Hay-Creek-Fire-Public-Information-Map-for-August-8-2021.pdf

Hay Creek Fire – Incident Update for August 7

INCIDENT UPDATE

Operations to reinforce the Hay Creek road have succeeded in creating a defensible fireline along the road and the avalanche chute along the west side of the fire. Crews will continue to mop up this southern edge and move the major focus to reinforcing the fireline in the Spruce Creek area with heavy equipment.

August 5, 2021 firing operations along Hay Creek Road underburn small pine trees - USFS
August 5, 2021 firing operations along Hay Creek Road underburn small pine trees – USFS

Both ends of the fire that are tied into the Hay Creek Road remain active, with a minimal rate of spread. Friday’s increased winds created visible smoke in these areas, with heavy fuels continuing to burn that were not extinguished by the rain last week. Although some increased fire behavior was seen Friday afternoon and evening due to increased winds, cooler temperatures and smokey conditions that reduce solar heat on the fire have helped keep fire spread minimal. Helicopter bucket drops Friday were effective in cooling the most active areas of the fire to the east.

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.

EVACUATIONS

Evacuation Warnings include all residences east and west of the North Fork Road from Home Ranch Bottoms north to 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 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 7

Hay Creek Fire – Incident Update for August 6

INCIDENT UPDATE

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.

EVACUATIONS

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.

CLOSURES

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 6