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NEWS RELEASE |
Salmon Interagency Dispatch Upper Columbia - Salmon
Clearwater District BLM Salmon - Challis National Forest Rural Route 2, Box 600
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Salmon Fire Information Center (208) 756-5283
Clear Creek Fire Update – August 8, 10:00 P.M.
A FIRE WEATHER WATCH HAS BEEN
POSTED FOR WEDNESDAY 8/9 with continued high temperatures, low relative
humidity and high winds. With this
weather pattern and the shortage of resources to assist with fire fighting
efforts, please be careful in the woods!
Clear Creek Fire remains approximately 12 miles west of the town of Salmon. The town is in no imminent danger and no evacuation is being considered.
On Tuesday, the west side of the Clear Creek Fire continued to move southerly toward Blackbird Mountain. The research plots around Blackbird Mountain have not burned. Fire crews have successfully held the fire line west of the residences along Panther Creek, south of the Deep Creek Campground. No residences have been lost in this fire, although many remain threatened with structure protection in place. There continues to be significant fire activity in the Trail Creek drainage. A burnout around the residence in Trail Creek was successful. The east line of the fire continues to move into Arnett drainage. Feller-buncher logging equipment continues to widen the dozer line along the east flank of the fire. The fire line along Napias and Moccasin Creek on the southeast side of the fire is holding. The total fire area is now estimated at 113,120 acres, with 40% containment. There are 1,544 personnel on the Clear Creek Fire.
A key objective is to keep the fire west of Panther Creek. Crews have begun prepping contingency lines around the head of Jesse Creek, which is the municipal watershed for Salmon. Today you can expect smoke from burnout operations along FS Road #300. The Third Battalion, Fifth Marine Corps Regiment from Camp Pendleton, CA, has completed on-the-ground fire training. Today Marines will help hold the fireline in the Panther Creek drainage.
Highway 93 is open, with a scheduled pilot car from milepost # 7 north to Conner at 5 PM, 10 PM, 2 AM, 6 AM, 10 AM and 2 PM. Traffic will be piloted south from Conner to mile post # 7 along Hwy 93 at 4 PM, 9 PM, 5 AM, 9 AM and 1 PM. Scheduled openings are subject to change based on fire activity. Travelers are advised to call toll-free 800-226-ROAD (7623) for current Montana road status, or 800-432-7623 for current Idaho road status.
Other Fire Activity –
The North Fork Wilderness Complex within the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness has 10 fires reported with approximately 1650 acres burned. Fire growth potential is high due to limited resources, limited access, steep terrain and dry fuels at higher elevations. The Frank Church River of No Return is closed ONLY within the Clear Creek Fire perimeter.
The Twin Fire is staffed with a Type III crew, which is continuing mop-up activities.
The Otter Fire in the headwaters of Panther Creek near the Morgan Creek summit continued to spread today. There is a crew on the fire. Helicopters utilizing water drops assisted suppression activity.
Two fires were suppressed in the Pahsimeroi drainage today. Both fires started on BLM lands and were human-caused.
Further updates will be
distributed as information becomes available.
Fire maps are available at the Salmon-Challis National Forest office on
Highway 93 south of Salmon. For additional
fire information please call:
208-756-5283 or log on to the Salmon-Challis National Forest website at www.fs.fed.us/r4/sc/fire2000.
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