INCIDENT UPDATE
A community meeting is being held at the Sondreson Hall today, August 11, at 6:00 pm.
Friday, August 13 will be a day of transition, as the California Incident Management Team 13 turns over control to a local team. The fire is being managed under a full suppression strategy.
The National Guard has been assisting with return of surplus supplies to the Northern Rockies Interagency Fire Cache in Missoula. Due to a relative humidity of around 40% on Tuesday, there were minimal smokes observed, as fuels are still wet within the fire area.
A feller buncher, a self-propelled machine with a cutting head that can hold more than one stem at a time, has been used to remove trees from contingency lines. The structural protection group will move into Glacier National Park today to continue assessments. Work will also include mopping up along the Hay Creek Road. Minimal fire activity is expected again today, with an average of an inch of rain received recently over the fire.
Montana remains in 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
Sunny skies with warmer temperatures and decreased winds at 10 to 15 mph are expected today. Look for highs in the 70’s with some valley bottoms rising into the lower 80’s. A wind shift to the northeast is expected tonight through Thursday night, before turning back to the SW on Friday.
Due to fire traffic and road construction in the area, travelers should drive defensively. For the most current fire weather forecast go to https://www.weather.gov/wrh/fire?wfo=mso. For smoke and air quality go to http://svc.mt.gov/deq/todaysair/. For current visibility in Glacier NP see https://www.nps.gov/glac/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm.
INCIDENT BACKGROUND
The Hay Creek Fire was reported on the evening of July 21, 2021. It is burning in the North Fork area of the Flathead National Forest at 5,200 – 7,100 feet of elevation. Public and firefighter safety is the number one priority. The fire has no reported injuries to date.