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Trail Ridge Fire
Incident Contacts
- Catherine McRaeEmail:catherine.mcrae@usda.govPhone:4069253353Hours:M-F 8-7, S/S 9-5
- Arlee StaleyEmail:frances.staley@usda.govPhone:406-490-1818Hours:M-F 8-6
- Wisdom Ranger DistrictPhone:4066893243Hours:M-F 8-4:30
- Darby Ranger DistrictPhone:4068213913Hours:M-F 8-4:30
- Catherine McRaeEmail:catherine.mcrae@usda.govPhone:4069255353Hours:M-F 8-7 S/S 9-5
Trail Ridge Fire Update October 16, 2022
Trail Ridge Fire
Publication Type: News 10/16/2022
Trail Ridge Fire Update
October 16, 2022
Incident Commander: Josh Hansen
Incident Commander (t): Ian Fowler
Start Date: August 26, 2022 Cause: Lightning Size: 17,583 acres Type: 4 Completion: 78%
CURRENT STATUS
The Trail Ridge Fire is burning on the Wisdom District of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest and the Darby-Sula District of the Bitterroot National Forest.
The fire is currently 17,583 acres according to the Infra-Red flight from last night. The fire is actively burning in the Hilltop area. A Type 3 helicopter has been doing bucket drops of water to help cool and slow down the fire. The fire is also burning previously unburned fuels inside the current perimeter near Prairie Creek and smoke is visible from this area.
The main objective for this fire continues to be firefighter and public safety. Other primary objectives include keeping the fire from impacting private lands and values along Highway 93 and East Fork Bitterroot corridors utilizing point protection and indirect lines where needed. Suppression repair work will continue when and where fire behavior allows.
Most of the resources are on the north side of the fire where the fire has is currently most active. Firefighters will continue suppressions of spots. A Type 6 engine is helping with fire activity and suppression efforts. All remaining resources will continue to monitor the fire and look for opportunities for suppressions repair. There is still an active fire area closure which includes Mink (FS 5763) and Meadow Creek Roads (FS725) and a portion of the Continental Divide Trail.
WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR
On Monday, a strengthening ridge over western Montana will bring a return to light, terrain-driven winds much like we saw late this past week. This pattern will stick around until later in the week. The next chance for precipitation come this next weekend. Today, mostly sunny with a high of 63-68. Minimum humidity will be 13-18 percent. The winds will be southeast 6-12 mph shifting to the southwest in the afternoon. Monday will be mostly clear, lows 38-43 and highs 64-69.
CLOSURES AND SPECIAL MESSA
The most current Closure Order for the Trail Ridge Fire is effective as of 22SEP22 and can be viewed in full at https:// www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/bdnf/alerts-notices