OWL FIRE UPDATE

Fire Information:

Joe Mazzeo

617-697-6721

(Temporary number; cell phone

with spotty coverage)

Southern Area Type 2 Incident Management Team

July 26, 2007

3:00PM

Location

20 miles N/NE of West Yellowstone within the boundaries of Yellowstone National Park

 Estimated Acreage

2,810 acres

Containment

0% percent

Cause and Date Started

Lightning - July 20, 2007

Resources on the Fire

20-person fire crews: 2   Helicopters: 1 Overhead: 38

Cooperators

USDA Forest Service, Park County, Gallatin County, West Yellowstone Fire Department

Restrictions and Closures

Some trails and backcountry campsites near the Owl Fire are temporarily closed. Details are available by calling the Yellowstone Backcountry Office at 307-344-2160 during business hours.

Fire Management

The Southern Area Type II Incident Management Team (Incident Commander Wilder), assumed management of the fire Wednesday morning.

The primary objectives include firefighter safety and preventing the fire from burning into National Forest Watersheds which contain many structures.  

Today’s activity

Construct fire line utilizing hand crews, continued reconnaissance and strategic planning.

Fire weather

Some rainfall was recorded on the fire last night. A second day of cooler temperatures is resulting in moderate fire behavior and fire growth

Other Fire Information

The fire is burning in steep rugged terrain that is only accessible by trail or helicopter. This is a full suppression fire. Control efforts will be impacted by the lack of critical suppression resources. These resources have been committed to other fires throughout the west

Public Meeting

A public meeting to update interested area residents on the status of the fire is set for Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. at the Gardiner High School.

Recorded Information

Additional information is available 24- hours a day by calling 307-344-2580 or on the web at http://www.inciweb.org/incident/855.