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Meadow Fire reaches 6,400 acres The Meadow Fire, located 12 airline miles southeast of Elk City in the Red River area of the Nez Perce National Forest, is currently 6,400 acres and 5 percent contained, according to a release from the Grangeville Interagency Dispatch Center. Resources on the Meadow Fire include 197 personnel (five 20-person crews including 2 hot shot crews), 1 feller buncher, 1 dozer, 1 skidgine, 4 engines, 3 water tenders and 2 excavators. Crews will continue with hazardous fuel reduction activities around residences and private land. Direct attack on the fire's edge with handline, supported by a skidgine (rubber-tired skidder with a water tank) as well as feller buncher and excavator line construction will continue where it can be done safely. Fireline construction will be the main objective on the northwest flank of the fire, focusing on tying together road systems and past harvest units in the event that the fire becomes more active in moving towards residences. For public safety, an area closure is in effect that includes roads and trails in the vicinity of the Meadow Fire. Access to the forest will be closed at the following locations: Forest Road 234 (except to local residents) and the Magruder Corridor (Montana Road) at the Red River Ranger Station; Poet Creek on the east side of the Magruder Corridor; and Black Hawk Mountain. Turman's Type 2 Incident Management Team is managing the Meadow Fire and the Incident Command Post is based out of the Red River Ranger Station. For more information on the Meadow Fire, please contact Information Officer Mike Cole at (208) 842-9225. Red River District reported three new suppression fires and one new Wildland Fire Use (WFU) fire (Short Fire). At the time of this update, the district had five fires staffed and contained and two fires suppressed. The Baker Fire, located four miles southwest of the Elk City Township, is 25 acres. Moose Creek District reported five new suppression fires, they are all staffed and 1/4 of an acre or less. A new trail closure is in effect due to the Mink WFU Fire - Highline Ridge Trail #626 is closed at the junction with Otter Creek Trail #621 and ending at the junction with Jim's Creek Trail #601. Clearwater Ranger District reported two new fires - the Sourdough Fire is 1/2 acre and the Clear Creek Fire is 1/4 acre and they are both staffed. Salmon River District reported one new fire in the Baking Powder area - smokejumpers are on that fire, according to Grangeville Dispatch.Clearwater National Forest Powell District has 7 new fires reported, with 4 WFU fires and 3 suppression fires staffed. The WFU Rabbit Fire is 1,500 acres and active. North Fork District has two new suppression fires reported and staffed (Ice and Cool Creek Fires - 1/10 of an acre each) and one new WFU fire - (Larson Point at 1/4 acre). Lochsa District reported no new fires. There is no change on the Milepost 128 Fire.Several wildland fire use fires in the Clearwater National Forest's backcountry are being allowed to burn to improve forest conditions and big-game habitat. Information about these fires is posted on the forest's web site: http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/clearwater. For public safety, additional road and trail closures remain in effect. Specific information is posted at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/clearwater/VisitorInfo/Assets/travel_info. Heaven's Gate Complex The Heaven's Gate Complex is currently 28,800 acres. It is 50 percent contained with a full containment date projected for Nov. 15. The complex is currently made up of four fires: The Black Butte Fire is located in the Gospel-Hump Wilderness east of Riggins and is estimated at 24,100 acres including the Plummer Spot. The three fires west of Riggins are in the vicinity of the Seven Devils and Heaven's Gate. The Green Acres Fire is estimated at 4,380 acres; Horse Heaven Fire is estimated at 60 acres; and McCrea Creek Fire is estimated at 260 acres. Current Resources on the fires include: Two Type 1 hotshot crews, two Type 2 crews, 15 engines & water tenders, two dozers, six helicopters and 278 total personnel are assigned to the fire. Reconnaissance flights and water bucket drops will continue on all fires as conditions allow. Green Acres, Horse Heaven, and McCrea: Green Acres will continue to be active inside the Hells Canyon Wilderness in Sheep Creek. These fires will be patrolled by air. The goal on the Black Butte fire is to keep all fire movement below Road 394. Crews will continue to prepare eight miles of line for burnout along Roads 394 & 9916 and Trail 121. This action is necessary to contain this fire and prevent it from moving west towards Riggins. Crews will continue to provide structure preparation as needed, as the fire progresses west along the Salmon River or north towards Florence. The structure preparation in Gasper Creek will continue today. Crews will continue checking for spot fires along the Big Salmon River Road and Road 394 on the western flank. There are two area closures in effect due to the Black Butte Fire in the Gospel-Hump Wilderness and the Green Acres Fire in the Hells Canyon Wilderness. For detailed descriptions and maps, please call local Forest Service offices or visit our website below. Grant's Northern Rockies Type 2 Incident Management Team is managing the complex with the Incident Command Post located in Riggins. Please contact Information Officer Ted Pettis at (208) 628-3589 for further information regarding the Heavens Gate Fire Complex. Additional information regarding the current status of fires and related closures is available at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/nezperce/gvc or http://www.inciweb.org. |
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