Spotted Bear District Fires Update 8-24-15 9:00am

Bear Creek Fire: SIZE: 19,595 Acres Fire crews continue to mop up hot spots in the Meadow Creek Trailhead and the Meadow Creek Outfitter’s corral. Engines are patrolling the Gorge Creek Road #549 between Meadow Creek Trailhead and Gorge Creek Trailhead to mop up hot spots and remove hazard trees. Additional engine patrolling is occurring along the Meadow Creek Road #2826 in the Jungle Creek area to assess fire behavior as the fire moves closer to the road.

Structure protection procedures (wrapping buildings with fire resistant material and/or placing hoses and pumps around structures) is near completion at Black Bear Cabin, Spotted Bear Lookout, and buildings at the Spotted Bear Ranger District compound. In coordination with Flathead County Office of Emergency Services (OES), precautionary preliminary structure protection assessments are beginning at the three resorts (Diamond R, Spotted Bear Ranch, & Wilderness Lodge) in the vicinity of Spotted Bear Ranger Station.

Wilderness Rangers are staged at Black Bear Cabin in the Bob Marshall Wilderness to contact Wilderness users and advise of alternate exit routes. The main objective for this fire remains at keeping the public and firefighters safe.

Trail Creek Fire: Size: 9500 acres NOTE-- The Trail Creek Fire and the Flat Creek fire have grown together and the fire will now be known as the Trail Creek Fire. Heavy logging machinery (dozers, feller-bunchers, and skidders) and hand crews are completing fire lines and mopping up hot spots along the southwestern flank off of the Flat Creek Road # 5359. Engines continue to patrol and secure holding lines along the Spotted Bear River Road.

CLOSURES from BEAR CREEK FIRE

A large area closure has been developed for the northern end of the Bob Marshall Wilderness for public safety. The closure includes the Meadow Creek Rd. #2826, the Gorge Creek Rd. #549, Meadow Creek and Gorge Creek trailheads, Meadow Creek Airstrip, Eastside South Fork Trail #80 from Meadow Creek Trailhead to Damnation Creek, Gorge Creek Tail #218. Access to the Bob Marshall Wilderness will be via western and southern trailheads. See attached map for closure details or call Spotted Bear Ranger District at 406 758-5376.

OTHER CLOSURES/RESTRICTIONS

- An Area Closure is in place in the Spotted Bear River Drainage and Middle Fork Drainage. Included in this closure is all access to and from the Spotted Bear River Road; South Creek Trailhead, Trail Creek Trailhead, Middle Big Bill Trailhead, Beaver Creek Trailhead and Campground, Silvertip Trailhead, Lower Twin Trailhead, and Upper Twin Trailhead. Note: the East Side Road and West Side Road are open and provide access to Spotted Bear Ranger Station, Diamond R Guest Ranch, Spotted Bear Guest Ranch, Wilderness Lodge. Trails are closed out of the respective Trailheads listed. Of note, the trail to Scott Lake and Flotilla Lake from the West Side of the Middle Fork of the Flathead River and Schafer Creek is within the Area Closure. Contact Spotted Bear Ranger District for more information 406-758-5376.

- A trail closure is in effect for the Granite Creek Trail # 156. For further information contact Hungry Horse Ranger District 406-387-3800.

- Trail closures are in place for the Three Sisters and Moose Ridge Fires. This includes trails on the Rocky Mountain Ranger District; the Rock Creek Trail #111, North Fork Red Shale Trail #130, North Wall Trail #174, Gates Creek-Moose Creek Trail #166, Moose Creek Trail #131, and Moose Furman Trail #261. Contact Rocky Mountain Ranger District for more information 406-466-5341. This closure also causes users to alter their National Recreation Trail CDT route and there are several options to consider. Contact Rocky Mountain or Spotted Bear Ranger Districts.

- Trail closures are in place in the Upper Middle Fork in the vicinity of Muskrat Pass , Cox Creek, Cap Mountain and Beaver Lake and within the Badger Two Medicine. As a result of these closures the National Recreation Trail CDT route is being rerouted at Gooseberry to Schafer Meadows to Lodgepole Creek and to Badger Creek. The Morrison Creek Trail #154 has been closed on the Hungry Horse Ranger District. Trail access to Schafer Meadows is limited although the airstrip is still open.

- An Area Closure is in place on the Seeley Lake Ranger District that closes all access and use of the Pyramid Trailhead. Contact Seeley Lake Ranger District 406-677-2233. Spotted Bear Ranger District and Seeley Lake Ranger District can help with alternative routes.

- The Flathead National Forest is in Stage II Fire Restrictions. All forest users are asked to comply and remain diligent on the risks that exist.

Spotted Bear District Fires

A number of fires are burning throughout the Spotted Bear Ranger District. All of the fires have been prioritized based on availability of crews and values at risk. Most of the fires are unstaffed although they are being monitored for growth and fire behavior.

The following fires are burning in the Spotted Bear River drainage:

· Three Sisters Fire 431 acres

The fire is burning in very steep, rocky terrain at high elevation in the upper portions of Three Sisters Creek in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. The fire has crossed over on to the Lewis and Clark National Forest. The fire is being managed to allow natural fire to play its ecological role in the Wilderness, but fire managers will take suppression action to protect Forest Service administrative sites if they become threatened. In response to this, the Rock Creek administrative cabin has been wrapped with fire resistant material. Trails have been closed in the immediate area.

· Goat Spur Fire 1/10^th acre This fire is being managed along with the Three Sisters Fire

· Milk Fire 3.5 acres

· Whitcomb Fire 1/10^th acres

· Upper Twin Creek Fire 1/10^th acre

The following fires are burning in the Middle Fork drainage-- Great Bea/Bob Marshall Wilderness:

· Cap Mountain Fire 0.25 acres No smoke showing

· Bone Creek Fire 0.5 acres

· Miner Creek Fire 265 acres

· Miner Lake Fire 1/10^th acre

· Burnt Creek Fire 1 acre

The following fires are burning in the South Fork drainage—Bob Marshall Wilderness:

· Woodward Fire 1/10^th acre