Bald Hill Fire
Location: 5 miles NW of Superior, Mineral Co., MT
Specific Location: Lolo NF, N of Clark Fork River, W of Keystone Rd., Lat 47° 14´ 24″ Lon 114° 58´ 26″
Date of Origin: 07/24/2009
Cause: Lightning
Situation as of 07/25/2009 4:00 pm
Personnel: 10
Size: 65 acres
Percent Contained: 100%
Lolo National Forest Firefighters were successful today in containing the Bald Hill Fire on the Superior Ranger District, keeping it to 65 acres. Mop-up today.
“Firefighters did an outstanding job of getting all these fires lined, said Superior District Ranger Sharon Sweeney, noting the efforts to keep in check the 10 fires on the Superior District. “We are expecting a few holdovers from that storm to show up today and tomorrow, and possibly even into next week.”
The successful effort of firefighters and suppression aircraft over the last two days has not lessened fire managers concern about the potential for an escaped fire. Continued high temperatures and low humidity are forecast for western Montana in the days ahead, with several weeks of fire season remaining.
Note: compare and contrast this fire and statements with the management of the Kootenai Creek Foofurb Fire [here]. That fire was ignited 7/13 and has been allowed to burn for 2 weeks. It is presently 760 acres and growing. No concern has been displayed by the Bitterroot NF about the potential for an escaped fire.
