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Boulder Lake Fire Update - Sept. 8, 2022

Boulder Lake
Publication Type: News 09/08/2022

Boulder Lake Fire Update - Sept. 8, 2022

Critical fire weather yesterday including wind gusts and low relative humidity, contributed to increased fire behavior and smoke production on the Boulder Lake Fire which was visible late in the afternoon from Missoula and Seeley Lake, MT. Information gathered from a reconnaissance flight indicates that the fire is now estimated to be 1,400 acres in size. 
 

Within the 1,400-acre fire perimeter, the fire burned inconsistently and with varying levels of intensity including moderately-severely burned areas and areas that burned in a mosaic pattern. Yesterday evening, wind-driven fire growth predominantly occurred to the east and northeast, pushing the fire into the Liberty Fire burn scar (2017) and into islands of unburned fuel. Observed fire behavior within the Liberty Fire burned area has been moderate to minimal. 
 

While most of the fire is still located within the Rattlesnake Wilderness, the fire has pushed out of the Wilderness boundary on the east and southeastern flanks and onto Lolo National Forest lands under MT DNRC protection jurisdiction. Due to this, the Forest Service, and partners at the MT DNRC, will be entering into a Unified Command structure and delegating management of the fire to a Type 3 Incident Commander. 
Fire managers will utilize a confine and contain suppression strategy to engage the southeast and eastern flanks of the fire, outside of the Wilderness boundary. Containment opportunities in these areas will be assessed and utilized which may include existing burn areas, natural barriers, and existing road systems.
 

Today, two MT DNRC engines are operating in the Gold Creek Trailhead area, northeast of the main fire, working on finding and extinguishing spot fires. A helicopter will also be used to check the fire spread along the south and southeastern flank of the fire which is currently where the fire is most active, exhibiting creeping, smoldering and isolated torching behavior. 
 

Incident Overview: The Boulder Lake Fire was reported on Sept. 3, 2022, and is burning primarily in the Rattlesnake Wilderness, east of Boulder Lake on the Missoula Ranger District. A Point-Zone Protection strategy is being utilized in the Wilderness. This strategy protects highly valued resources (such as buildings, infrastructure, or recreational assets) from the fire, utilizing various natural and geographic features (past wildfires, trails, rock, and cliff bands) while protecting other values consistent with the Rattlesnake Wilderness. Additionally, fire managers will be utilizing a confine and contain suppression strategy to engage the eastern and southeastern flanks of the fire outside of the Wilderness. Containment opportunities may include existing burn scars, natural barriers, and road systems. 

CLOSURES: An area closure is in place for public safety and includes all National Forest lands in the Boulder Lake basin (please reference the attached map).
 

CLOSED AREAS

  • Access is closed to Boulder Lake, Fly Lake and Gold Creek Lake. 
  • Gold Creek Cabin (Forest Service structure).
CLOSED TRAILS
  • Boulder Lake Trail #333, from milepost 0.0 at junction with Road #4323 to milepost 5.4 at Boulder Lake. 
  • Boulder Point Trail #334, from milepost 0.0 at junction with Trail #333 to milepost 0.2 at the end of the trail. 
  • Fly Lake Trail #336, from milepost 0.0 at junction with Trail #518 to milepost 1.3 at Fly Lake. 
  • Porcupine Creek Trail #504, from milepost 0.0 at junction with Rattlesnake Creek Trail #515 to milepost 4.1 at its junction with Trail #333. 
  • Gold Creek Trail #518, from milepost 0.0 at trailhead on Road #16859 to milepost 4.9 at its junction with Trail #333. 
  • Gold Cabin (Lower Gold Ridge) Trail #519, from milepost 0.0 at its junction with Trail #518 to the end of the trail. 
CLOSED ROADS
  • Gold Creek Road NFSR #126, from milepost 10.1 at its junction with Road #2118 to the end of the road at milepost 12.5.
  • Gold Ridge Road NFSR #2118, from milepost 0.0 at junction with Gold Creek Road #126 to milepost 3.4 at the gate.
  • Gold Ridge Meadows Road NFSR #2121, from milepost 0.0 at junction with Gold Ridge Road #2118 to milepost 4.3 at the gate.
  • Upper Gold Peak Spur NFSR #16859, from junction with Road #2121 to the end of the road at milepost 1.2.

WEATHER Firefighters are expecting warm and dry conditions today and higher humidity and cooler temperatures beginning this evening and persisting through tomorrow (Sept. 9).