Kootenai Creek Foofurb* Fire
Location: 7 miles NW of Stevensville, Ravalli Co., MT
Specific Location: Bitterroot NF, Lat 46° 33´ 9″ Lon 114° 14´ 7″
Date of Origin: 07/12/2009
Cause: Lightning
Location: 7 miles NW of Stevensville, Ravalli Co., MT
Specific Location: Bitterroot NF, Lat 46° 33´ 9″ Lon 114° 14´ 7″
Date of Origin: 07/12/2009
Cause: Lightning
Situation as of 10/01/2009 1:00 pm
Personnel: 81
Size: 6,690 acres
Percent Contained: 15%
Costs to Date: $2,500,000 (not updated)
This will be the last report unless activity increases.
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Situation as of 09/28/2009 5:30 pm
Personnel: 121
Size: 6,293 acres
Percent Contained: 10%
Costs to Date: $2,500,000
Demob is in progress, closeout tentatively scheduled Wednesday with a transition to a local Type 3 organization.
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Situation as of 09/27/2009 5:30 pm
Personnel: 205
Size: 5,820 acres
Percent Contained: 10%
Costs to Date: $1,900,000
Currently crews continue to further reinforce fire lines in the Larsen Creek drainage on the southeast corner of the fire, and in the Bass Creek area on the NE corner of the fire. Structure protection operations in Kootenai Creek, Brooks Creek and Bass Creek are currently in place. Focus on tactical actions on stopping the spread of the fire to the north, east and south and keep it from moving onto private property.
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Situation as of 09/23/2009 5:00 pm
Personnel: 241
Size: 4,830 acres
Percent Contained: 10%
Costs to Date: $930,000
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Situation as of 09/22/2009 6:00 pm
Personnel: 221
Size: 4,583 acres
Percent Contained: 10%
Costs to Date: $810,000
Crews continue burn out and line construction operations and have made progress towards securing the E flank and SE corner of the fire.
Continue to focus tactical actions on stopping the spread of fire to the N, E and S and keep it from moving onto private property.
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Situation as of 09/20/2009 10:30 am
Personnel: not reported (est 140)
Size: 4,535 acres
Percent Contained: 0% (no update)
Costs to Date: not reported
Fire has blown up. No GACC report. Evacuation Alert & Warning remains in effect for homeowners west of the Sharrott Hill Loop at the west end of the South and Middle Kootenai Creek Roads.
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Situation as of 09/15/2009 4:50 pm
Personnel: 3
Size: 3,050 acres
Percent Contained: 0%
Costs to Date: Not reported
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Situation as of 09/03/2009 4:20 pm
Personnel: 3
Size: 2,685 acres
Percent Contained: 0%
Costs to Date: Not reported
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Situation as of 08/11/2009 5:00 pm
Personnel: Not reported
Size: 2,400 acres (not updated)
Percent Contained: 0% (not updated)
Costs to Date: Not reported
“While many have asked about the intent to ‘let this fire burn’, agency officials are quick to confirm that this fire is not being “allowed to burn” or managed for resource benefits. Fire managers established a goal to suppress this fire right from the start, but recognized that due to the hazardous conditions on the ground, there would be limited opportunities to utilize ground-based firefighters or air-based resources safely and effectively. Fire managers have identified natural barriers and changes in terrain and fuels where, as the fire moves into those locations, aggressive suppression actions will be immediately taken to prevent the fire from moving on to private lands.”
Note: That’s an interesting change of events. However, fire managers are NOT reporting, and/or the Northern Rockies Coordination Center (NRCC) has thrown a cone of silence over all information, due to the sensitive nature and National Security quality of that information. Nice job, Cone Heads!!!!
You have to admire the use of the term “agency officials” when obfuscating. Spin managers of uncertain parentage would be more accurate.
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Situation as of 08/07/2009 6:00 pm
Personnel: 3
Size: 2,400 acres
Percent Contained: 0%
Costs to Date: Not reported
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Situation as of 08/04/2009 11:00 am
Personnel: Not reported
Size: 2,033 acres
Percent Contained: 0%
Costs to Date: Not reported
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Situation as of 07/28/2009 6:00 pm
Personnel: 4
Size: 786 acres
Percent Contained: 0%
Costs to Date: $206,000
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Situation as of 07/26/2009 6:30 pm
Personnel: 7
Size: 786 acres
Percent Contained: 0%
The crews completed their objective of temporarily securing the SE/SW corners of the fire by utilizing natural barriers and aircraft. Crews will be demobing the fire area until a significant event occurs requiring additonal resources.
No estimated date of containment, no report of desired incineration acreage.
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Situation as of 07/25/2009 8:00 am
Personnel: 32
Size: 780 acres
Percent Contained: 0%
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Situation as of 07/24/2009 6:40 pm
Personnel: 32
Size: 727 acres
Percent Contained: 0%
Fire has doubled in size since yesterday. A long term plan is expected in the 3-5 days, indicating the Bitterroot NF is in no hurry to contain, control, or extinguish this fire. No maximum burn zone or estimated date of containment have been announced. A public meeting in Stevensville was held today to discuss the status of the Kootenai fire and long term plan being developed.
*foofurb: euphemism for “fire used for resource benefit.” However, as is usual with foofurbs, no benefits have been elucidated, no EIS created, no NEPA process undertaken or envisioned.
