State Creek Fire

September 3, 2020  8:00 P.M.

Contact:  Butte Ranger District 406-494-2147

What:                         Wildland Fire

Detected:                   August 29, 2020

Cause:                        Lightning       

Current Size:             Approximately 40 acres

Containment:           0%

Resources on Fire: 1 Type 2 Crew from Oregon, 1 10 person Crew from the Kootenai National Forest, 1 Water Tender and 1 Engine from Jefferson County, 1 Smokejumper module from West Yellowstone,  2 Forest Service Type 6 Engines and miscelleaneous overhead totaling about 50 personnel.

Location: Approximately 2 miles NE of Whitetail Resevoir

Narrative: Fire officials from the Butte Ranger District of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest responded to a new fire start near State Creek over this past weekend. The fire was caused by a lightning strike on August 25th and went undetected until Saturday, August 29th.

After yesterday’s gusty winds the fire grew to about 40 acres in an area difficult for firefighters to access due to rough terrain, numerous snags, and a significant amount of dead and down trees. Firefighters were initially on-site but had to disengage due to safety concerns after several burning snags fell. A helicopter dropped several buckets of water to try and hold the fire in check. Currently crews are implementing indirect line to create fuel breaks along roads and private inholdings.  The fuels breaks are in preparation for any possible spread of the fire.   According to Jan Bowey, Acting Butte District Ranger, “The State Creek Fire may be with us until we have a season-ending event. We are hopeful indirect line, additional fire personnel and the assistance of Jefferson County will protect private property that may be in the fire’s path.” The weather will continue to warm and dry with potential for gusty winds. Smoke is visible from the Whitetail Road and may be visible from Whitehall.

Safety Concerns:  Safety of the public and firefighters is always a primary concern.

Closures:  There are no closures in the area at this time.  However, if fire activity increases with predicted warmer temperatures, an are closure may be necessary.  Please monitor InciWeb over the holiday weekend if you plan to be in the area.

For more information about this fire and other fires across the country, go online to http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/.

The Pierce Fire is in monitor status by the local fire department.

Pierce Fire: estimated 170 acres
Location: approximately 8 miles southwest of Sanderson, Texas

The Pierce Fire is estimated 170 acres and being monitored by locals.  

Sotol Mitchell Fire: 69 acres, 100% contained
Location: approximately 15 miles north of Sanderson, Texas

The Sotol Mitchell Fire is 100% contained and has been turned back over to the local fire department to monitor.  

Sotol Mitchell Fire: estimated 66 acres, 15% contained
Location: approximately 15 miles north of Sanderson, Texas

Resources have returned this morning to continue fire suppression efforts. Dozer crews will continue to construct and improve containment line. Engine crews will continue patrolling for hotspots to mop up. Aerial resources will be utilized as needed.
 
Fire Weather: Temperatures will get up to near 90 degrees today with partly cloudy skies. There is a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms today. Winds will be out of the east around 10-15 mph. Minimum relative humidity values will be near 35%.

Sotol Mitchell Fire: estimated 55 acres, 15% contained
Location: approximately 15 miles north of Sanderson, Texas

The Sotol Mitchell Fire is burning in rough terrain. Aerial resources were heavily utilized today to slow the growth of the fire. Ground resources began constructing containment line and will continue tomorrow.  

Rice and Snider Fire reach 100% containment. The County Assist Team demobilized resources today and will transfer management of the fire back to Counties, BLM and DNRC. The fire is secured and displays no threat. It is currently raining and cool. 

New photos have been posted

Sunday, September 6, 2020   

FIRE PROTECTION:   Custer, Powder River, Rosebud Counties; Bureau of Land Management and MT DNRC
OWNERSHIP:   Private, State, Bureau of Land Management, US Forest Service

Rice Fire:

• Located 6 miles N of Ashland, MT

• 15,515 acres

• 50% contained

• 171 firefighters (14 engines; 5 heavy equipment; 5 twenty-person hand crews; 2 water tenders)

Snider Fire:

• Located 20 miles N of Ashland, MT

• 31,588 acres

• 60% contained

• 119 firefighters (12 engines; 3 heavy equipment; 7 smokejumpers; 1 twenty-person hand crew; 1 water tender; team/overhead)

Today:  An infrared heat source flight was conducted last night over both fires to assist fire managers with locating areas of heat within the fire’s perimeter. From this information, maps were produced and shared at morning briefing, so crews know where to focus their efforts. The cottonwood trees along the Tongue River continue to pose challenges with their unpredictability. Cottonwoods can burn from within the trees trunk and branches and show no signs until they break off, fall or ignite. Two helicopters are available to assist where needed. Work outlined for today:

• Continue to secure uncontrolled fireline (controlled fireline = no heat 132 feet in from the fire edge)

• Begin mop-up operations, mop-up and secure 132 feet from fire edge (mop-up =seek and destroy all heat with hand tools and water)

• Monitor river bottom for fire

• Remain ready for initial attack if new fires start in the area

   

Thursday, September 3:  Management of the fire was transferred to the Dept. of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) County Assist Team (CAT). Incident Commander, David Hamilton and team will work closely with private landowners, local fire departments, county, state and federal partners to ensure life safety and values at risk (rangeland/forage; structures; natural resources and ag lands) are protected while putting out the fires as quickly as possible.

Wednesday, September 2: The Rice and Snider Fires started mid-day and grew quickly due to extreme fire behavior (hot temperatures, ripe vegetation, erratic winds).

CLOSURES & EVACUATIONS:  None are in place

Saturday, September 5, 2020  

SIZE:   Rice 12,318 acres – Snider 31,588 acres
CONTAINMENT:   Rice 30% - Snider 50%
FIRE LOCATION: N of Ashland MT
PROTECTION:   Custer, Powder River, Rosebud Counties; BLM and MT DNRC
OWNERSHIP:   Private, State, BLM, US Forest Service
RESOURCES:
   4 Helicopters
   26 Engines
   3 Water tenders
   7 Smokejumpers
   6 Twenty-Person Hand Crews
   5 Heavy Equipment (dozer/grader)        

Today: Fire resources working the Snider Fire will focus their efforts along the southern portion of the fire. This area is along the Tongue River; cottonwood trees in this area continue to hold heat and pose a safety hazard. Aviation is readily available and will assist where needed. Engines and heavy equipment are working the Rice fire moving north to secure the fires perimeter. The southeast area of the Rice Fire is looking good with secure fireline.

A red flag weather warning will be in effect today at 12:00 PM. Firefighters will take safety measures as fire activity, winds and temperature will increase. Engines and crews will also be ready to assist with any new fire starts that may occur.

Yesterday:  Hand crews and engines put in a long day of work to button up areas on the fire that needed work. The NW and SW areas of the Snider Fire are quiet and in patrol status except for the cottonwoods on both sides of the Tongue River.

Thursday, August 3:  Firefighters worked to further secure the eastern and southern edges of the Rice Fire. Burn operations assisted this effort. Management of the fire was transferred to the Dept. of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) County Assist Team (CAT). Incident Commander, David Hamilton and team will work closely with private landowners, local fire departments, county, state and federal partners to ensure life safety and values at risk (rangeland/forage; structures; natural resources and ag lands) are protected while putting out the fires as quickly as possible.

Wednesday, August 2: The Rice and Snider Fires started mid-day and grew quickly due to extreme fire behavior (hot temperatures, ripe vegetation, erratic wind). The Rice Fire is located 6 miles north of Ashland on the east side of the Tongue River and the Snider Fire is located 20 miles north of Ashland along the Tongue River and Tongue River Road on both the east and west sides.