September-December Wildland Fire Potential Outlook

September 2021 Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook

Here is the Wildland Fire Potential Outlook for September, October, November. As you all are aware, we turned a corner in mid-August in the North Fork with the moisture we received. A big change that significantly slowed the fire season for us. And the good news is that we are forecast to continue to be a “normal” fire season through September, October and November. Plus, with a La Nina forecast for Montana this winter, you all need to be tuning up your snowblowers and getting your firewood laid in.

While that is good news for Northwest Montana, Oregon and Washington will continue to be busy through September, Northern California gets no relief until December. Grim.

See the full report (PDF format) for further details.

Hay Creek Fire status update

East side of Hay Creek Fire showing a mix of burned and unburned areas on August 12, 2021 - USFS — East side of Hay Creek Fire showing a mix of burned and unburned areas on August 12, 2021 – USFS

A brief fire update…

According to District Fire Management Officer Andy Huntsberger, there’s nothing going on with the Hay Creek Fire — not even any smoke. If you saw a helicopter buzzing around yesterday, it was picking up a radio communications repeater from Numa Peak that was used during firefighting efforts.

Latest update on Monica and her three cubs

Tim Manley just posted an update to Facebook about Monica and her three cubs…

Just an update about this family group of grizzly bears.

I have been up the [North Fork] 3 times in the last 3 days and I will be up there again today.

In the past 5 days the female with 3 yearlings have gotten into two garbage cans two nights in a row. Those cans were replaced with working bear resistant Kodiak cans. The bears got into a trash trailer the next night and that has been replaced with a totally enclosed trailer. The next night they got into a pickup topper that had more than a camp stove. It had food and garbage in the truck. Last night they returned and tried to get into a different car with no garbage or food in it. They also went to another property and pushed on a trailer and were chased off by the landowner. They have been very persistent and not easy to get them to leave.

I am in the process of talking to landowners about a safe place to trap for this family group.

I am also reminding people to secure food and garbage in a way that these bears and others can’t get to it. Not in vehicles because unfortunately , this family group knows to check out cars.

Please notify me of any bear activity so I know where these and other bears are causing conflicts. Thanks.

My phone number is 250-1265 and email is Tim.manley@mt.gov

Fire restrictions lifted across NW Montana

Yay! All fire restrictions are lifted as of Wednesday, August 25th, 2021 at 12:01AM . . .

Revised Hay Creek Fire Closure

The areas closed to the public due to the Hay Creek Fire are much reduced. Only the Hay creek drainage west of the Spruce Creek Road intersection remains closed. Everything else is reopening.

Hay Creek Fire - Road, Trail and Area Closures, August 23, 2021 — Hay Creek Fire – Road, Trail and Area Closures, August 23, 2021

PDF version: https://nflandowners.org/nflawp/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Revised-Hay-Creek-Fire-Closure.pdf

Hay Creek Fire – Update for August 20

INCIDENT UPDATE

The evacuation warning for the Hay Creek Fire was lifted by the Flathead Country Sheriff on August 18, 2021. The current Type 3 incident management team will transition to a local Type 4 incident command from the Flathead National Forest on Saturday, August 21 at 0700. Hungry Horse-Glacier View Fire Management will maintain resources on the Hay Creek Fire for the foreseeable future. Crews will continue to cleanup and rehab the fire area.

The last public meeting was held on August 19. There are no more public meetings currently planned.

Hungry Horse-Glacier View Ranger District is currently evaluating rental cabins reopening and the future size and scope of area, road, and trail closures. For current information, please visit InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/7712/62192/.

Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are in effect with campfires prohibited. Know Before You Go- Visit www.mtfireinfo.org for additional Montana fire restrictions.

EVACUATIONS AND CLOSURES

As of August 18, 2021 the evacuation warnings have been lifted. Road, trail, and area closures are in place. See details at https://go.usa.gov/xFjcA and Current Fire Information – Glacier National Park.

WEATHER AND AIR QUALITY

Continue reading Hay Creek Fire – Update for August 20

Hay Creek Fire – Public Information Map for August 20

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

Unless there’s a significant change in the fire’s status, this map will be updated much less often — if at all — as the Hay Creek Fire winds down. By August 21, Hay Creek Fire operations will be transferred to a local Type 4 team based out of the Hungry-Horse-Glacier View District. From that point, information on the fire will be coming directly from the Flathead National Forest.

PDF version: https://nflandowners.org/nflawp/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Hay-Creek-Fire-Public-Info-Map-for-August-20-2021.pdf

Stage 2 fire restrictions remain in effect

A reminder that we’re still not entirely off the hook…

Evacuation warnings lifted for the Hay Creek Fire

It’s official! The sheriff’s office lifted all posted evacuation warnings for the Hay Creek Fire, effective August 18, 2021.

PDF version: https://nflandowners.org/nflawp/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Evacuation-warnings-lifted-for-the-Hay-Creek-Fire-August-18-2021.pdf

Hay Creek Fire – Update for August 18

INCIDENT UPDATE

On Saturday, August 21, management of the Hay Creek Fire will be transferred to a Type 4 organization from the Flathead National Forest. A community meeting will be held at the Sondreson Hall on Thursday, August 19th, at 6:00 pm.

Crews will continue to wrap up operations involved with fuel reduction along roads and contingency lines, and patrol and mop up hot spots as needed. The helibase has been moved from the Hay Creek Incident Base in

West Glacier to the Hungry Horse Ranger Station Helibase. Equipment and supplies are being removed from the fire.

The fire received a wetting rain and snow in the higher elevations on Tuesday. From this point on, Hay Creek Fire information will be updated only as there are changes in fire activity or area trail and road closures. For current information, please visit InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/7712/62192/.

Northwest Montana is in VERY HIGH 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 AND CLOSURES

Evacuation Warnings remain in effect. See details at https://go.usa.gov/xFjcA and Current Fire Information – Glacier National Park. Road and trail closures are in place.

WEATHER AND AIR QUALITY

Continue reading Hay Creek Fire – Update for August 18