Single Publication

Public Meeting – Friday, September 16th, 7:00 PM  - Noxon Volunteer Fire Department

Bull Gin Complex Fires

Government Fire : 2,348 acres; 0% contained

Billiard Fire: 1,119 acres; 3% contained

Isabella Lake Fire: 280 acres; 0% contained

The Bull Gin Complex is currently 3,747 acres. Updated acreage, provided from an infrared flight, confirmed minimal growth across the complex over the last two days. Smoky conditions, high humidity, and a wetting rain significantly tempered fire activity.

Government Fire: Firefighter and heavy equipment efforts are focused on removal of slash generated from line construction. Hand crews are using chippers to disperse large amounts of small fuels and masticators are delimbing and grinding fuels along the Rock Creek Road and within the 2763 road system. The Helena Hotshots and engine crews patrol, monitor, and secure the west side where fire has reached control lines and there is a high frequency of snags and other burning material rolling across the line. In the northwest, Government Creek is providing a natural control line. Night operations patrol and monitor the southern portion of the fire. The Rock Lake Fire is controlled and in patrol status.

Billiard Fire: Firefighters achieved containment on the west side of the fire, north of Fatman Saddle where they have been successful in extinguishing areas of heat working 30 to 60 feet interior from the control line. To the north of the containment, the Aravaipa Hotshots are removing dead and fire weakened trees that pose a hazard along constructed handline. Crews and heavy equipment continue line construction to the south in the 2293 road system and Fatman Road as well as to the west along the Blue Creek Road. Engines patrol structures in Blue Creek, Blue Creek Bay, Hillside Lane, and Fatman Road.

Isabella Lake Fire: The fire remains unstaffed and monitored.

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. Please sign up for Sanders County Emergency Alerts at 406-203-0082 to stay informed on the status of emergency conditions.

Closures: The Billiard Fire Area, Road, and Trail Closure has been reduced. 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.

Weather: Partly cloudy with temperatures in the low to mid 60’s and southwest winds 8 to 12 mph with gusts up to 18 mph on the ridgetops.