News – Page 7

Stage I Fire Restrictions Going into Effect in NW Montana

The text of the official press release . . .

Kalispell, MT, July 26, 2023 — Interagency fire managers are implementing Stage I Fire Restrictions that will go into effect at 12:01am Saturday, July 29th, 2023 across the Flathead National Forest, Kootenai National Forest, Glacier National Park, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation – Northwestern Land Office, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Region 1, and Lincoln County, Flathead County, and Sanders County.

Each year, 70 to 80% of wildfires are human-caused and this summer the trend has continued. Northwest Montana is currently experiencing drought conditions including extremely dry forest fuels; forecasts of temperatures above normal accompanied by low humidity, wind, and minimal precipitation; and competition for firefighting resources, as fires continue to burn across the State and the West. The intent of Fire Restrictions is to reduce fire risk and prevent wildfires during periods of high to extreme danger by decreasing potential sources of ignition.

Please refer to the appropriate Fire Restrictions Order for the land you are visiting and for a complete list of what is and isn’t allowed. Continue reading Stage I Fire Restrictions Going into Effect in NW Montana

Red Meadow Fire – an official update

A note just received (5:00pm, July 20)from Fire Chief Lynn Ogle…

I just spoke with Lincoln Chute with the County. He said that the last word on the Fire on Red Meadow is contained. The last word from USFS was that the crews are doing “Mop-up” and will be probable spending the night. More later if there is any more.

From Andy Huntsberger, District Fire Management Officer…

Today, July 19th, 2023 we had a new start in the Red Meadow Creek Drainage. Township 35 N, Range 22 W, SW corner of section 17. The fire was reported around 2200 hours on July 18th and we responded to the reported fire this morning.

The fire is currently about 2 acres in size and we have 20 fire personnel on scene. 8 Helicopter Rappelers from the Kootenai NF and 12 Flathead NF Fire personnel. To date, we have used Type 1 and 3 helicopters for water bucket drops to help contain this fire. Fire activity is creeping and smoldering with some intermittent small flare ups. The smoke is light, white and visible from Red Meadow Road FS115. Fire suppression operations are being successful at this time.

There are no trail, road or area closures at this time.

Local fire season begins with the Red Meadow Fire

The “Red Meadow Fire” so far…

We don’t have much information yet. Reported at 9:42am, July 19, it is quite a ways up the ridge south of Red Meadow Road, about 6.5 miles west of the North Fork Road Junction. It was initially estimated at 1.5 acres. It looks like they’ve got at least two engines assigned to it and possibly some air support.

See the accompanying location map snagged from the DNRC Interactive Fire Map website.

Red Meadow Fire, July 19, 2023 - helicopter at Moran Meadow - photo courtesy of Cheryl Crane — Red Meadow Fire, July 19, 2023 – helicopter at Moran Meadow – photo courtesy of Cheryl Crane

2023 Summer Interlocal Meeting a resounding success

Rob Davies, Hungry Horse/Glacier View District Ranger, making a presentation at 2023 Summer North Fork Interlocal, July 12, 2023 - W. K. Walker — Rob Davies, Hungry Horse/Glacier View District Ranger, making a presentation at 2023 Summer North Fork Interlocal, July 12, 2023 – W. K. Walker

This summer’s North Fork Interlocal Agreement Meeting was a resounding success. Kudos to all the folks who came together to make it a real community-based event. Extra credit is due to the lunch crew who not only fed about 50 people, but organized the transformation from meeting room to dining hall and back again, all in the space of an hour.

We had 70 people there, including about 28 agency representatives from (deep breath) the Flathead National Forest, Glacier National Park, Montana FWP, Montana DNRC, Flathead County, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, The Glacier Institute and the U.S. Federal Highway Administration (no, really!). And we only finished 10 minutes late.

Wow!

Reminder: North Fork Firewise and Interlocal Agreement meetings this Wednesday, July 12

Bob Dunkley explains Park plans for the Polebridge Ranger Station, post Red Bench Fire, at the 1989 Interlocal at Sondreson Hall.

Just a quick note to remind everyone that the Firewise and Interlocal meetings are this Wednesday, July 12, at Sondreson Hall.

Firewise is at 9:30am, organized by the Fire Mitigation Committee.

Lunch is at noon with the North Fork Trails Association (NFTA) providing the main course and the local community chipping in with sides!

The Interlocal begins at 1:00pm, also sponsored this summer by the NFTA.

Skip Bartram passes away (updated)

From his obituary . .

It is with great sadness that the family of Raymond A Bartram announces his sudden passing on June 22, 2023 at the age of 77.

His love of life did not come to an end with his death here on earth. He was surrounded by his loved ones, who will continue to honor his legacy by living their lives to the fullest.

Graduating from New Braunfels High School, he earned his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Texas in Austin and his MBA from SMU. He started his longtime banking career in the Trust Department at Broadway National Bank in San Antonio. Moving back to New Braunfels, he took the position of Executive Vice President-Trust and Investment Officer at the First National Bank. This position spanned three bank name changes. . . from First National Bank to Texas Commerce Bank to JP Morgan-Chase.

Upon retiring from the position he remained on as an Advisory Director.

He was an active community leader receiving numerous honors, awards and recognitions and was a member of the Rotary Club. After retirement from the bank, his next project was a joint venture to develop the condos known as Camp Warnecke Estates on Garden Street and establish the property management company. Then, in his spare time, he took up ranching. He registered in the Selective Service System in September of 1963 and served in the Texas Army National Guard, Bravo Battery, 4th Battalion, 133rd Field Artillery Unit.

He is preceded in death by his parents Raymond and Lucy (Schleyer) Bartram and is survived by his wife Carole; his son John and his wife Ashley and daughters Gaines and Lucy; his daughter Lezlee and her husband Shawn Jurica and daughters Porter and Keefer.

Via Kevin O’Bryan (on June 25)…

Sad News. Skip Bartram died late Friday of septic shock. I received an email from his wife Carole. Carole is currently in their home in Texas with her children and grandchildren. At this time, I have no further information on when (or if) they might even be coming to Montana this year.

If any Northforkers want to send a sympathy card, Carole’s address in Texas is:

437 Ogden Lane
New Braunfels, Texas 78130

Sorry for the bad news…

First Aid/CPR/AED Course July 18

Bob Lee will be giving his well-regarded First Aid/CPR/AED class in the North Fork again this summer. It is an all-day course, starting at 9:00am and wrapping up by 4:00pm. The date is Tuesday, July 18. The course will be held at Sondreson Hall. Cost is $45/person. Bring your own lunch and drinks. Class size is limited to 10 people.

The course offers two-year AHA certification in First Aid, CPR and AED usage. If your job requires certified First Aid training, your current certification is expiring or if you just want to get up to speed on such things, this is an excellent way to get it done.

Contact Bill Walker, 406-407-2764 or wkwalker@nvdi.com to sign up for the course.

June/July/August 2023 Wildland Fire Potential Outlook

I’m a little late in posting this, but here is the June/July/August Wildland Fire Potential Outlook.

July, August and September are looking dry for extreme Northwest Montana. The shaded areas are actually west of the Whitefish Divide, but lines mean nothing at that scale.

And this is merely an outlook based on global weather. What we get is what we get. What we do know is that we are dry for June now, even with the moisture that has come. Mountain snowpack is low, which is more of an issue for river floating than it is for fire season.

We should all hope for nice wetting rains spaced weekly through July and August, and the fall rains coming in after Labor Day. Works for me!

Regardless, now is a great time to do your trimming and grass mowing and get prepared for fire season. The July 1 update will give us a better forecast, but we all know we have fire season in July and August, sometimes carrying into September and October. Let’s hope for a short and quiet fire season.

Here is the link to the Outlook itself, and the file is attached:
https://www.nifc.gov/nicc/predictive/outlooks/monthly_seasonal_outlook.pdf

Going-to-the-Sun Road Opens for the 2023 Season

From the press release . . .

WEST GLACIER, Mont. [June 13, 2023] – Going-to-the-Sun Road officially opened this morning for the 2023 summer season. The road may now be accessed by motorized vehicles all the way through from both the West Glacier and St. Mary entrances. This is the earliest the road has opened since 2005.

Vehicle reservations are required May 26 through September 10, 2023, for those entering the park by vehicle or motorcycle from 6 am to 3 pm at west side entrances including the North Fork, Camas, and West entrances.

With Going-to-the-Sun Road fully open, the number of vehicle reservations available will be increased in the corridor. This increase will be executed through a series of additional reservation releases made available each morning starting today, June 13 at 8 am MDT. For opening day, a one-time release for additional Going-to-the-Sun Road vehicle reservations will also take place today at 6 am.

Continue reading Going-to-the-Sun Road Opens for the 2023 Season

Flathead Forest Supervisor leaves for position at regional headquarters

Kurt Steele, Flathead National Forest Supervisor has moved to a position with Region 1 Forest Headquarters. In the meantime, Deputy Flathead Forest Supervisor Tami McKenzie is holding the fort…

Flathead National Forest Supervisor Kurt Steele has accepted a new position at the U.S. Forest Service’s Northern Region headquarters in Missoula, capping a three-and-a-half-year stint overseeing 2.4 million forested acres in northwest Montana that in the past year had become beset in controversy.

Tami MacKenzie

According to an agency spokesperson, Steele “was offered and accepted” a new post as deputy director at the regional office that involves “environmental planning,” although the details of the position are still being worked out.

“I think it’s just a lateral move to a position at the regional office level,” Dan Hottle, the federal agency’s northern region public information officer, said Friday afternoon, when details about the transition were still scant. “It’s a new role and he will work closely with the regional leadership team on a number of different projects across the region as deputy director. His start date is still being negotiated right now.”

Continue reading at the Flathead Beacon . . .