While Other Montana Fires Calm, Black Cat Fire Runs at only 30% containment

Source | Incident Information System

Summary

 

Evacuations on east side of fire:

This
afternoon, gusty winds caused the Black Cat fire to move northeast
towards Evaro. As a precaution a mandatory evacuation has been issued.
The evacuation area includes all property accessed off of Highway 93 on
both sides of the highway from mile post 5.5 (previous evacuation area)
to mile post 10 (Joe's Smoke Ring). Some roads included in the area are
Mercer Road, Evaro Road, and Beargrass Mountain Road and all property
accessed from these roads.

Current Status of Highway 93:

The
public is advised that due to the fire activity adjacent to Highway 93,
the highway may be intermittently closed throughout the day and delays
should be expected.

Mill Creek Area Status:

At
8:00 p.m an evacuation was lifted for the southern portion of Lower
Mill Creek Road. Residents will be allowed to re-enter the area north
of the Frenchtown Frontage Road to mile marker two, including Spring
Hill Road. The area north of and including the Mill Creek stables and
Mill Creek bridge will remain closed.

Residents need to remain
ready to re-evacuate within one hour if necessary. It is safe to
return, however conditions are subject to change and an evacuation
could be reinstated.

Evacuation Shelters:

The
Red Cross has opened an evacuation center at DeSmet School, 6355 Padre
Lane in Missoula. The shelter phone number is 406-217-1270. The shelter
is open to all evacuees of the Black Cat Fire and is providing cots,
bedding, water and snacks to evacuees. Meals will be provided if
needed.

A second shelter has been established on the north end
of the closure at the Arlee Community Center at 248 Powwow Road on the
east side of Highway 93.

 

 

 

Basic Information

Incident Type

Cause

Date of Origin

Location

Incident Commander

Wildland Fire

Lightning

08/14/2007 at 1420 hrs.

5 miles northeast of Frenchtown, Montana

Kim Martin

Current Situation

Total Personnel

Size

Percent Contained

Estimated Containment Date

Fuels Involved

Fire Behavior

Significant Events

485

11,515 acres

30%

09/15/2007 at hrs.

Litter and understory.

Creeping and isolated torching.

The fire received light rain (up to one-fourth inch) today. Burnout operations were conducted along Highway 93 in Division E until rain curtailed operations. The fire remains west of Highway 93. Line construction along the northwest flank continued with good progress toward meeting the strategic plan to protect values at risk to the north and northwest.

Outlook

Planned Actions

Projected Movement

Growth Potential

Terrain Difficulty

Containment Target

Remarks

Concentrate resources to protect Evaro and associated structures, Highway 93, communication sites, and tribal lands. Continue line construction and preparation for line securing to the northwest from Highway 93. Begin line construction from Mill Creek to the northeast toward Charity Peak.

12 hours: North; Northeast & east 24 hours: North; Northeast & east 48 hours: North; Northeast & east 72 hours: North; Northeast & east

High

High

With the addition of critical resources to date (5 Type 1 crews, mid-level management), the chosen management strategy will succeed in about 3-4 days.

The Population Protection Plan has been developed for areas east and west of Highway 93. Due to the progression and direction of this fire, IR flights are critical to obtaining current fire perimeter.

Weather

Current Wind Conditions

Current Temperature

Current Humidity

4 mph W

62 degrees

40 %