Single Publication

Boulder Lake Fire Update - Sept. 9, 2022

Yesterday, late afternoon wind gusts pushed the fire to the south and west of Gold Creek Cabin, a primitive Forest Service structure (located near the south flank of the fire). The cabin, which is wrapped in aluminized structure wrap, remains unburned. A helicopter will conduct water bucket drops today to check fire spread toward the cabin and protect the structure. Currently, the south flank of the fire is the most active exhibiting moderate-active surface fire, along with creeping and smoldering fire behavior.
 
Due to yesterday afternoon’s activity, it is estimated the fire grew by about 100 acres and is now approximately 1,500 acres in size. Today, crews are expecting increased relative humidity and cooler temperatures which will help to moderate fire behavior.
 
In addition to protecting the cabin, crews are working hard to keep the fire in check and limit spread onto National Forest lands outside of the Wilderness that are under MT DNRC protection. Today, MT DNRC engines will be working on seeking out and extinguishing spot fires on the east flank of the fire and directing water bucket drops on the south flank of the fire to protect the cabin. 
 
Fire managers will continue to utilize a confine and contain suppression strategy to engage the south and eastern flanks of the fire, outside of the Wilderness boundary. Containment opportunities in these areas will be assessed and may include existing burn areas, natural barriers, trails, and existing road systems.
 
Starting tomorrow and through the rest of the weekend, crews are anticipating dry, hot, and breezy conditions to return to the fire area. Fire activity may increase under these conditions and smoke may become more visible. Smoke may be visible from Missoula, upper Gold Creek, the Ninemile Prairie Road area, and parts of Seeley Lake. 
 
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. 
 
FUEL TYPE Burning in heavy timber, dead and downed timber, and snag trees (overhead hazards) with a mixed conifer/subalpine fir fuel component. The Boulder Lake Fire is surrounded to the east and southeast by the Mineral Primm Fire (2003) and to the north by the Liberty Fire (2017) burned areas.
 
CLOSURES: An area closure is in place for public safety and includes all National Forest lands in the Boulder Lake basin.
 
CLOSED AREAS:

• Access is closed to Boulder Lake, Fly Lake, and Gold Creek Lake. 
• Gold Creek Cabin (Forest Service structure).

• 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. 

• 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.