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Bitterroot National
Forest Wildfire Update
Cooler temperatures, calm winds and higher
humidity contributed to a relatively quiet day on wildfires
throughout the Bitterroot National Forest.
Of particular note is the fire that burned
the Alta Pine. A separate news release is being distributed,
describing that fire in more detail.
Here’s a run down of our current fires:
Stevensville Ranger District:
-- Although small size at ½ acre,
the Big Creek Fire, two miles west of the Big Creek Trailhead,
is burning in green timber and producing smoke clearly visible
to valley residents. This fire is located in steep, rugged
terrain; fire managers responded with a helicopter and bucket
drops yesterday and are closely monitoring the fire today.
-- Kootenai Creek Fire, is located approx. 1 mile east of
South Kootenai Lake in the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness west
of Stevensville. It is approximately 1/2 acre in size, and
was started by a lightning strike on August 7th.
-- The South Fork of Big Creek Fire, also
in the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness west of Victor, is located
approximately ½ mile south of Big Creek Lake. It was
started by lightning on August 7th and is estimated to be
1 acre in size. A second as-yet unnamed fire is burning in
the upper reaches of the drainage near Big Creek Lake. It
is smaller than ½ acre in size.
-- The Arastra Fire, started by lightning
on August 1st, is currently ½ acre in size. It is on
the ridge between Grizzly and Arastra Creeks in the Burnt
Fork drainage east of Stevensville.
Darby Ranger District:
-- Kidney Lake Fire, on the Darby Ranger
District; the corrected acreage is approximately 10 acres
in size.
West Fork Ranger District:
-- The Alta Pine fire, which burned the historic
Alta Pine, has burned approximately ½ acre. Its cause
is under investigation.
-- The Indian Creek Fire, located at the
junction of Indian Creek and Schofield Creek in the Selway
Bitterroot Wilderness, is nearly 60 acres in size. It was
started by lightning on August 2nd.
-- The Cooper Point Fire is located near
Paradise, and has covered approximately 40 acres.
-- Wapiti Fire is creeping around, covering
approximately 15 acres.
-- The Schofield and Schofield 2 Fires are
each approximately 1 acre in size. These fires are located
in Schofield Creek, in the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness, and
were also started by lightning on August 1st.
-- The Lake Loma Fire on the ridge between
Sawtooth and Blodgett, is located in high, rocky terrain on
the Darby Ranger District and is approximately 10 acres in
size.
-- Both the Lunch Creek and Eagle Creek fires
have been inactive, and each is estimated at less than 1/10
acre.
-- The East Stripe Fire, located southeast
of XIII Mountain in the Frank Church – River of No Return
Wilderness, has been inactive and remains at 1/10 acre.
-- The Wood Hump Fire, also caused by lighting
on July 18th has been burning actively and is approximately
2200 acres in size. It has spread from the Bitterroot to the
Salmon-Challis National Forest, and is located in the upper
reaches of the Selway River in the Frank Church – River
of No Return Wilderness.
-- The Hells Half Saddle Fire is located
south of the Magruder Corridor in the Frank Church-River of
No Return Wilderness. It was started by lightning on June
30th and burned very actively yesterday. It is currently estimated
to be 1000 acres in size, and is impacting access to the Hells
Half Lookout. Travelers in the area should expect access restrictions
on the road to the lookout.
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