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KXLH News
Davis wildfire NW of Helena now at 2,800+ acres
Posted: Aug 26, 2010 10:30 PM by KXLH News (Helena)
Updated: Aug 27, 2010 9:49 AM
The Davis Fire burning just northwest of Helena on Stemple Pass is now estimated at 2,800 acres and is threatening almost two dozen homes.
On Thursday evening, fire officials held a town hall meeting to explain the situation. Forest Service Ranger Amber Kamps told the residents that when Forest Service officials began the prescribed burn on Wednesday, the weather was good.
Kamps said, "I can not tell you how sorry I am that we have to meet under these conditions. That you are having to go through this. I can't make it up to you. I can just tell you I am sorry and we will do the best we can from this point forward," Kamps says.
Over 65 people are working on the fire. They will slow down containment at midnight.
Officials have ordered 12 twenty-person hand crews for Friday, as well as five engines, six helicopters and several pieces of logging equipment.
On Thursday evening, fire officials held a town hall meeting to explain the situation. Forest Service Ranger Amber Kamps told the residents that when Forest Service officials began the prescribed burn on Wednesday, the weather was good.
Kamps said, "I can not tell you how sorry I am that we have to meet under these conditions. That you are having to go through this. I can't make it up to you. I can just tell you I am sorry and we will do the best we can from this point forward," Kamps says.
Over 65 people are working on the fire. They will slow down containment at midnight.
Officials have ordered 12 twenty-person hand crews for Friday, as well as five engines, six helicopters and several pieces of logging equipment.
UPDATE: The Davis wildfire burning northwest of Helena has now burned an estimated 1,000 acres and is still growing, according to Katherine Bushnell of the Helena National Forest Service.
Lewis & Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton has ordered evacuations of homes located along Stemple Pass Road over to Highway 279 (Lincoln Road).
Canyon Creek school is being readied for residents who have been evacuated from their homes, and fire officials will hold a meeting at 8 p.m. on Thursday evening at the school to brief area residents about the situation.
The fire is being managed as a unified command between the U.S. Forest Service, Canyon Creek Volunteer Fire Department, and Lewis & Clark County Sheriff.
(First Report, 3:28 pm) A controlled burn got out of hand in the Helena National Forest south of Stemple Pass on Thursday afternoon.
The wildfire, which is located entirely on U.S. Forest Service land, has currently burned approximately 100 acres and evacuation orders have been issued for Stemple Pass Road from the Continental Divide down the highway.
KXLH reporter Marnee Banks reports that there are two air tankers and two helicopters currently battling the blaze, and three more choppers are en route.
Lewis & Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton is currently at the Canyon Creek Fire Station monitoring the situation as an incident management team is assembled and dispatched to the scene of the fire.
The fire started as a prescribed burn on Marsh Creek Road between Stemple Pass and Granite Butte Lookout.
Weather conditions have been ripe for fire for the last 24 hours; the National Weather Service had issued a Red Flag Warning for a high risk of fire due to the hot, dry conditions in the area on Wednesday and Thursday.
Approximate location:
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