Fact Sheet:
9:30 am
Gold Creek Fire
July 17, 2013
Start date: Identified July 15 Contact: Mariah Leuschen, Jack Conner, Heather Noel
Phone: 406 548-1174, 406-698-0501, 406-370-7370
Limited cell coverage at ICP, direct landlines being established
Cause: Anticipated Lightning Holdover
Location: 17 miles northeast of Missoula, MT, closure map attached.
Current Size: Approximately 160 acres Containment: 0%
Resources Assigned: Two Type I Handcrews, One Fire Use Module, 2 Air Attacks, 1 Type III Helicopter incoming, 3 additional helicopters ordered. 4 additional handcrews requested.
Closures: Gold Creek Area Closure Gold Creek Trailhead and West Fork Gold Creek Trailhead will be closed. The area closure extends to all areas west of Gold Creek Road, north of Trail #52 (Prim Lake Trail) and east of the Main Rattlesnake Recreation Corridor. Trail #504 (Porcupine Ridge Trail) is closed. Trail #52 and trails south of the Rattlesnake vicinity are open. The closure also borders Trail #515 accessing the Headwaters of Rattlesnake Creek, this trail is open.
Current Status: A Type II Incident Management Team under the command of Stan Benes took control of the fire at 6:00 a.m. July 17. On Tuesday isolated torching was observed. The fire is burning in heavy timber. Due to fire activity, the lack of safety zones for firefighters and the remote terrain, aerial fire resources have been patrolling the fire. Today incoming fire personnel will access the fire establishing safety zones, anchor points
Planned Actions: Crews will access the fire establishing safety zones, anchor points and cutting hazardous trees to begin direct suppression of the fire where possible. Minimum Impact Suppression Tactics will be utilized in the Rattlesnake Wilderness. The northeastern flank of the fire is spotty and crews will work to establish anchor points. One Fire Use Module will conduct structure protection on the Gold Creek Cabin. Spike Camps are being considered due to the remote nature of this fire.
Weather: Wet thunderstorms are expected in the fire vicinity today. Relative humidity will be higher at 20-30% valleys, 30-40% over the fire. South/southwest wind is expected today at 4-8 mph and erratic winds around thunderstorm cells. Thursday will return to mostly sunny with a hot and dry trend continuing into the weekend, temperatures reaching upper 90s.
Cooperating Agencies: Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, Montana DNRC, Lolo National Forest.
