Type 2 team takes over as Bull Gin Fire Complex grows

The Bull Gin Fire Complex, part of more than one dozen lightning-caused fires from storm activity on Aug. 31 in Northwest Montana, is now under the direction of Incident Commander John Thompson of Northern Rockies Team 7, a Type 2 Incident Management Team.

Thompson’s team helped bring the Elmo Fire in Sanders and Flathead counties earlier this summer. Now, they’ll deal with four growing fires on the Cabinet District on the Kootenai National Forest. According to Kootenai National Forest officials, Thompson’s Team 7 took over Monday, Sept. 5.

While many of the 15 wild fires were contained and controlled, Kootenai National Forest officials decided on the evening of Friday, Sept. 2 to combine the Isabella Lake, Government, Billiard and the North Star fires into the Bull Gin Complex. The decision was made due to complexities and proximity of the four fires which were a combined 670 acres as of Sunday, Sept. 4.

Here’s a look at each of the four fires, their size and planned activities:

Government Fire: Due to aerial mapping the fire size is 125 acres. Fire activity consisted of backing understory burning and rolling materials igniting fuels below. Sunday’s operations consisted of bucket operations on the northeast corner to keep the fire out of Miller Gulch. The equipment crews will continue construction of the shaded fuel break along Road 150 from the private section to the Government Creek crossing.

Structure assessments have been completed with plan implementation to follow, including potentially setting up sprinkler systems where feasible. Fire behavior is expected to remain the same with the continued weather pattern. Fifty percent of the edge is active and backing. Closures are still in place for public and firefighter safety.

Billiard: Due to aerial mapping the fire size is now 160 acres.

North Star: Due to aerial mapping the fire size is now 280 acres. Fire officials said the Billiard and North Star fires will be referenced as the Billiard Fire due to the potential of burning together. On Sept. 4, there was roughly 100 acres of unburned fuel between the two and the fire continued to back down the slopes of Fatman Road with uphill runs. This will continue due to the continuous fuel loading. The head of the fire has reached the rock scree. Crews worked to improve access for fire suppression efforts on the west flank. Structure protection is in place where accessible. Closures are still in place for public and firefighter safety.

Isabella Lake Fire: Due to aerial mapping the fire size is now 125 acres. It has moderate potential and continues to back on all sides. The fire is in rough inaccessible terrain and closures are still in place for public and firefighter safety.

Predicted weather: High pressure will remain in place for the next few days keeping temperatures above normal. Temperatures may be moderated due to the influence of wildfire smoke in the area.

According to the National Weather Service, expected temperatures for Tuesday and Wednesday will be near 95, with relative humidity at 12-13% with southwest winds ranging from 10 to 20 mph in lower elevations with ridge tops at 15-25 mph.

Smoke in the Kootenai and Clark Fork Valley is from fires in Idaho, California, Washington and Oregon being transported into Northwest Montana.

More fire information can be found on inciweb at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8381/

Here is a compilation of the fires, size, locations and status on Sept. 3 from Kootenai National Forest fire officials:

Stump Fire, one-tenth of an acre in the Middle Thompson Lake area. It was controlled on Sept. 4 and is in patrol status

Everett Fire, one-tenth of an acre in the Ziegler Mountain Area. The fire was controlled on Sept. 2 and is in patrol status;

Cheer Creek, one-quarter acre in the Bear Creek Area. The fire was contained on Sept. 3;

Bear Creek, one acre in the Bear Creek Area. The fire was controlled on Sept. 2 and is in patrol status;

Copper Creek, five acres in the McConnell Mountain area. The fire is listed as contained on Sept. 4. Fifty resources were assigned to it;

Doe Creek, one-tenth of an acre in the Doe Creek area. It was controlled on Sept. 1 and is in patrol status;

Schrieber Lake, one-tenth of an acre in the Schrieber Lake area. The fire was extinguished on Sept. 2;

Williams Creek, 1.6 acres in the Williams Creek area. The fire was contained on Sept. 2 and controlled on Sept. 3;

Upper Schrieber, one-tenth of an acre in the Coyote Creek area. The fire was controlled in Sept. 2 and is in patrol status;

Brush Creek, one-tenth of an acre in the Preacher Mountain area It was put out on Sept. 3;

Dunn, one-tenth of an acre in the Dunn Creek area. It was controlled on Sept. 1 and is in patrol status.