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The Family Peak Wildfire Complex consists of 4 fires totaling 941 acres (as mapped using GPS from 8/22 patrol flight) in the southern Badger-Two Medicine area, north and west of Swift Reservoir. A Type II Incident Management Team has assumed management of the Family Peak Complex as of this morning.

· Spotted Eagle – 698 acres in remote, heavy timber; actively burning in upper Lonesome Creek drainage

· Mt. Poia – 203 acres in heavy timber surrounded by rock

· Muskrat Pass – 40 acres in steep, remote heavy timber. Spotted across Continental Divide.

· Haywood Creek – 0.2 acres about 1 mile east of NF boundary

The Family Peak fires are burning in steep, inaccessible terrain. Personnel are monitoring these fires and providing information and ensuring safety of forest visitors in the area. Risk to firefighters to actively engage these fires is very high and resources are needed elsewhere to manage fires threatening structures and property. The Family Peak Complex fires are being monitored; use of aircraft to do so may be limited due to needs on other fires, and due to low visibility as a result of accumulated smoke from fires in WA, OR, ID, and MT.
Additional Fires Burning in the area on the Rocky Mountain Ranger District

The Sheep Mountain Fire is estimated 70-100 acres, approximately 5 miles west of K-L Guest Ranch at head of Gibson Reservoir.

Detected afternoon of Aug. 26, this fire is actively burning in thick timber and heavy fuels. Very active fire behavior on 8/26 in thick timber and fuels, combined with lack of safety zones or escape routes renders use of ground crews for direct attack not feasible. FS fire managers are coordinating with K-L owners to set sprinklers for protection of ranch perimeter. Fire personnel are assisting with structure protection at the K-L Ranch and the Fish & Game Cabin, and additional fire management actions should they become feasible.

The Moose Ridge Fires  are estimated at 210 acres total, in Moose Ridge and Red Shale Creek areas west of the North Fork Sun River

· Moose Ridge 1 – Estimated 150 acres, actively burning on east edge 8/26 and 8/27

· Moose Ridge 3 – relatively inactive, not visible through area smoke 8/26

· Moose Ridge 2 – Estimated 60-70 acres, not very active afternoon of 8/26

· Red Shale, Miner’s Creek –no recent activity; visibility difficult through area smoke

These fires are burning within remote wilderness, where structures and property are not at immediate risk. Risk to firefighters to actively engage these fires is very high; resources are needed elsewhere to manage fires threatening structures and property. Structure protection is installed at Gates Park and Cabin Creek cabins. The Moose Ridge Fires are being monitored; use of aircraft to do so may be limited due to needs on other fires, and due to low visibility as a result of accumulated smoke from fires in WA, OR, ID, and MT.

There are numerous backcountry and trail closures in the Bob Marshall Complex. This situation continues to evolve as fires grow. Anyone seeking information regarding entering or traveling through this area should contact the appropriate Ranger District for current information.

 

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