Northwest Zone Interagency Fire Coordination Group Jump to: Evacuations | Fire Weather | Fire Restriction Discussion | Fire Updates | Air Quality | Prevention Message | Media Contacts RELEASE DATE: Monday, August 13, 2018 – 15:30 p.m. Current Fire Danger: EXTREME FIRE RESTRICTIONS: All jurisdictional agencies in the NW Zone Fire Management Area will enter Stage II Restrictions at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, August 16, 2018. This includes: Flathead National Forest, Flathead County, DNRC NW Land Office Kalispell, Libby, Plains Units; Kootenai National Forest, Lincoln County, Sanders County, Lake County. Glacier National Park is entering Stage II Fire Restrictions at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, August 14. Current Restrictions: Sanders County: Stage II Kootenai National Forest: Stage I Libby & Plains Units, Montana DNRC: Stage I MULTIPLE LIGHTNING STRIKES ACROSS THE FIRE AREA WERE RECORDED SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 2018, WITH CONFIRMED FIRES IN ALL JURISDICTIONS. MULTIPLE FIRE REPORTS ARE COMING IN, WITH INITIAL ATTACK OCCURING, RESOURCES RESPONDING, AND MORE FIREFIGHTING RESOURCES BEING ORDERED. A SIZE-UP OF THE BIG PICTURE ACROSS THE AREA IS OCCURING NOW, AND PRIORITIES BEING DETERMINED. Evacuations Glacier National Park 9 p.m. 8/12/2018: Howe Ridge Fire Evacuation Order: Avalanche and Sprague Creek Campgrounds, North Lake McDonald Road (including private residences and Lake McDonald Ranger Station), Lake McDonald Lodge Complex (all businesses, employees, and private residences), private residences along Going-to-the-Sun Road. The Going-to-the-Sun Road is closed near Apgar to Logan Pass on the west side. Apgar Village and most other areas of the park remain open. Glacier National Park Fire Line: 406-888-7077 U.S. Department U.S. Department Flathead County State of of Interior of Agriculture Montana Montana Montana Sanders County Montana National Park Forest County Fire Office of Emergency Department of Montana Fish, Wildlife Service Service Wardens Services Natural Resources and Parks Association and Conservation Northwest Zone Interagency Fire Coordination Group Kootenai National Forest/Lincoln County The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office issued a pre-evacuation notice at 9:30pm on Aug. 11 for Edna Creek Road, Lake Creek Road, Sutton Ridge Road, and Swamp Creek Road. Residents in those areas are in the SET stage and need to be prepared to evacuate on short notice with important belongings, medicines, and pets prepared to leave. For the most up-to-date info on evacuations call 406-293-6295. Fire Weather Dry conditions and seasonal temperatures will occur today across Montana with light southwest winds except for light northeast winds forecast for west Glacier National Park. Across Montana High pressure will redevelop over the region Tuesday resulting in warmer temperatures, lower humidities and mainly terrain driven winds. For the Kootenai-Flathead/Glacier National Park area today’s fire weather forecast calls for max temperatures in the mid-70s to mid-80s, with minimum humidities of 18-28% in the valleys and 34-44% ridgetops. Tuesday temperatures are forecast in the 80-90s in the valleys and 70-75 on the ridgetops. Fire Danger in western Montana is Extreme, and will likely remain so for a while. Northwest Montana continues to experience critical fire conditions including extremely dry forest fuels and minimal precipitation, and this trend is expected to continue through August. Fuel moisture indices are measuring at very low levels. Fire Restriction Discussion For specific fire restriction orders, visit https://firerestrictions.us/mt/ Stage I: • Area: Kootenai National Forest, Lincoln County, Libby and Plains Units of the Montana DNRC • Campfires and other fires are prohibited except in approved recreation sites, as designated on the fire prevention order. Liquid petroleum and LPG stoves that can be turned off are allowed. • Smoking is prohibited outside of vehicles, buildings, and developed recreation sites, unless you are in a 3-foot diameter area cleared of all burnable vegetation. Stage II: • Area: Sanders County (8/14 Glacier National Park, 8/16: • Campfires and other fires are prohibited everywhere. Liquid petroleum and LPG stoves that can be turned off are allowed. • Smoking is prohibited outside of vehicles, buildings, and developed recreation sites, unless you are in a 3-foot diameter area cleared of all burnable vegetation. • Operating motorized vehicles off designated roads and trails is prohibited. • Operating any internal combustion engine, welding, operating a torch with open flame and using explosives are prohibited from 1:00 pm – 1:00 a.m. A one-hour foot patrol in the work area is required following cessation of all of these activities. U.S. Department U.S. Department Flathead County State of of Interior of Agriculture Montana Montana Montana Sanders County Montana National Park Forest County Fire Office of Emergency Department of Montana Fish, Wildlife Service Service Wardens Services Natural Resources and Parks Association and Conservation Northwest Zone Interagency Fire Coordination Group FIRE UPDATES Flathead National Forest: Fire Name Start Date Acres Cause Status Paola Ridge* Closure Map August 11 250 Lightning Resources on scene Hungry Horse RD Coal Ridge* Closure Map August 11 300 Lightning Resources shared Glacier View RD w/Paola Whale Butte August 11 4 Lightning Resources on scene Glacier View RD Lost Creek August 11 0.25 Lightning Resources on scene Tally Lake RD Tally Mountain August 11 2 Lightening Resources on scene Tally Lake RD Brownstone August 2 1084 Lightning Active, remote Spotted Bear RD location https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident /6103/ *See attached updates for more information on these fires. Kootenai National Forest* Fire Name Start Date Acres Cause Status Davis Fire July 29 5479 Lightning 5% contained, Type 2 https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident IMT /6074/ Surprise Gulch August 11 13 Lightning Resources on scene Tenmile 679 Lightning Resources on scene, https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6 30% containment 079/ Sterling Complex (Pinkham 333 August 11 544 Lighting Resources on scene acres, Huckleberry/Cliff 211 acres) *See attached release for more information on the Kootenai National Forest fires. Montana DNRC Kalispell Unit* Fire Name Start Date Acres Cause Status Bear Springs August 11 18.5 Lightning Resources on scene *See attached release for more information on the DNRC fires. U.S. Department U.S. Department Flathead County State of of Interior of Agriculture Montana Montana Montana Sanders County Montana National Park Forest County Fire Office of Emergency Department of Montana Fish, Wildlife Service Service Wardens Services Natural Resources and Parks Association and Conservation Northwest Zone Interagency Fire Coordination Group Glacier National Park Fire Name Start Date Acres Cause Status Howe Ridge August 11 1,500- Lightning Resources on scene 2,500 Numa Ridge Aug. 11 1.36 Lightning Resources on scene Heavens Sake Aug. 11 0.1 Lightning Resources on scene *See attached release for more information on the Glacier National Park fires. Flathead County Flathead County fire departments continue to respond to numerous preventable fires. These include illegal debris burning, excessively large bonfires, out of control campfires, careless discarding of smoking materials and fires started by dragging trailer chains. We are asking all members of the community to minimize the use of campfires, tighten up their trailer chains, and stop illegal burning. Lincoln County See evacuations for information on pre-evacuation notices in Lincoln County. Sanders County SMOKE AND FIRE continues to impact western Montana but Sanders County seems to at least temporarily be out of the eye of the storm on the wildfire front. The Munson Fire is being managed in conjunction with Weeksville, is one acre and 100% contained. The Montana DNRC is now patrolling the 1.1 acre Bold Peak Fire (declared contained and controlled yesterday) burning 35 miles north of Plains. Fire Name Start Acres Cause Status Date Garden Creek Fire (CS&KT) July 29 2052 Lightning 20% Contained, https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6098/ 255 personnel Weeksville Fire, Lolo NF August 54 Escaped 70% contained, 60 10 house fire personnel https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6127/ U.S. Department U.S. Department Flathead County State of of Interior of Agriculture Montana Montana Montana Sanders County Montana National Park Forest County Fire Office of Emergency Department of Montana Fish, Wildlife Service Service Wardens Services Natural Resources and Parks Association and Conservation Northwest Zone Interagency Fire Coordination Group Air Quality Information Smoke has continued to impact the Flathead Valley this week. You can check out the air quality for the valley and around the state by visiting the Flathead City-County Health Department website: http://flatheadhealth.org/environmental-health/air-quality/ and www.airnow.gov Prevention Message What can you do to reduce the risk to your property from wildfire NOW? Here are 7 easy ways to reduce that risk to your home. Visit https://www.nfpa.org/Public- Education/By-topic/Wildfire/Preparing- homes-for-wildfire for even more great graphics and tips for preparing your home! For even more information about preparing your family, home, property, and community for wildfire, go to: www.firewise.org www.wildlandfirersg.org www.fireadapted.org www.disastersafety.org/wildfire U.S. Department U.S. Department Flathead County State of of Interior of Agriculture Montana Montana Montana Sanders County Montana National Park Forest