InciWebSingle Publication
Could not determine your location.
Wildfire
Prescribed Fire
Burned Area
Response
Other
09.21.2022 Daily Update
Bull Gin Complex
Publication Type: News 09/21/2022
BULL GIN COMPLEX FIRES
Total Acreage: 4,044
Completion: 32%
Breakdown by Fire:
Government Fire: 2,624 acres
Billiard Fire: 1,144 acres
Isabella Lake Fire: 287 acres
COMMMUNITY MEETING:
Please join Northern Rockies Team 2 and the Kootenai National Forest and for a Community Meeting. Friday, 9/23/22, 10:00 AM; Noxon Fire Hall 401 Noxon Avenue, Noxon, MT, 59853
HIGHLIGHTS:
Completion increased from 6 to 32% yesterday, despite fire acreage increasing slightly. Fire growth was primarily due to the Government Fire slowly creeping south into eastern portions of Rock Creek. Firefighters continue to prioritize structure protection and are actively patrolling the active edges of the Complex. As crew continue to make progress, resources are being right-sized for current conditions. Some firefighters and aircraft are being reassigned to other incidents, as is appropriate. The weather forecast is calling for rain starting tonight, through much of the day Thursday, which should result in reduced fire activity in the following days.
Government Fire: Firefighters are diligently patrolling and mopping up the southern end of the fire, especially near private residences. Crews are removing some unneeded hose lays, based on fire conditions. Along the eastern side of the fire, chipping efforts continue to make progress southward. A dozer line was established moving from the east to southeast edge and piling and chipping were completed. Fire resources will continue mastication work in the southwestern area in the coming days.
Billiard Fire: Engines and crews are patrolling, monitoring, and mopping up near Blue Creek, Blue Creek Bay, Hillside Lane, and Fatman Road. Resources are removing hose lay in areas where fire activity has calmed down.
Isabella Lake Fire: The fire continues to be monitored by air resources.
WEATHER:
Today will start off sunny and dry, with similar winds as yesterday, with temperatures slightly higher. Clouds should set in around 4:00 PM, followed by showers beginning as early as 6:00 PM. Rain is anticipated to continue through Thursday evening, accumulating as much as 0.3-0.6.” Thursday and Friday will remain cool, but the area will warm back up over the weekend.
WHEN WILL IT BE OUT?
Even though wet conditions are expected, smoke will persist, and the fires still have the potential to spread. The fires will stay active, especially in areas where the canopy prevents dry fuels from receiving moisture. It will take a season-ending event to extinguish these fires. This event will include sustained lower temperatures, shorter burning periods, increased relative humidity, shorter sunlight duration, and significant moisture. Today’s rain event will not be a season-ending event.
CONTAINMENT vs. COMPLETION
Recent updates refer to completion, rather than containment. Wildfire patterns are changing, causing firefighters to adjust how they can most safely and effectively fight fire. Steep and rugged terrain, dead snags, and other safety hazards make it unsafe for firefighters to fight the fire directly. Therefore, this Complex, like an increasing number of wildfires, is utilizing a “point protection” strategy. This approach focuses on values at risk as “points.” Firefighters establish control and contingency lines around these points, working toward completion.
EVACUATIONS:
On September 8th the Sanders County Sheriff’s Office placed the residents along Government Mountain Road and Timber Ridge Road into pre-evacuation status. For status of emergency conditions, please sign up for Sanders County Emergency Alerts at 406-203-0082.
CLOSURES:
Government Mountain Road and Rock Creek Road are closed to the public. The Noxon Refuse Site remains open during regular hours. Area, road, and trail closures are in place for the Government, Billiard, and Isabella Lake Fires to provide for public safety and firefighting operations. See Inciweb for maps and closure descriptions: https://bit.ly/KootenaiNFClosures.