USFS Prepares for Hunting Season Amid Firefights

Effective 8/31/2017, Sucker Creek Road Reopened.

To provide for firefighter and public safety during the fire, a temporary area closure of selected trails and roads remains place for the Park Creek Fire. There are no evacuations at this time.

Hunting season is upon the Helena Lewis and Clark National Forest. It will begin September 2. An area closure for public and firefighter safety is in place for the fire area. This will primarily affect Hunting Unit 281. The hunting unit is not closed. The only closures for this hunting unit are within the Park Creek Fire Closure and Alice Creek Fire Closure. Please be aware of these area closures when planning for hunting trips. More information about hunting units is available HERE.

The Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest is in Stage 1 Fire Restrictions – Starting Saturday, September 2 at 12:01 AM, Stage 1 fire restrictions will be amended to ban all campfires. Smoking is prohibited outside of buildings, vehicles and developed recreation sites, unless you are in a 3-foot-diameter area cleared of all burnable vegetation.

Fire Update and Fire Behavior:

A thunderstorm passed over the fire yesterday causing gusty winds and lightning. After the storm passed, fire crews patrolled the southern perimeter of the fire monitoring for spots over the line. All containment lines held. Firefighters will continue mop-up operations to further secure lines. Fire activity is moderate and terrain driven with backing, creeping and occasional single tree torching. Steep, rugged terrain, large dead and down fuels and numerous snags continue to be the primary safety concerns for fire crews.