Sprague Fire

[llholmes1948]

This article in the Hungry Horse News seems to be the latest article on the Sprague Fire that I have seen:

http://www.hungryhorsenews.com/article/ ... /170829984

[here-we-go]

Wow! That photo kind of says it all.

[here-we-go]

From inciweb:
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5510/38865/

Short Term Shift in Weather May Impact Fire Behavior Today

The weather forecast for today includes the possibility of dry lightning and gusty winds as a cold front is expected this morning. A trace amount of precipitation may fall on the fire but it is not expected to moderate fire growth long-term. Warmer temperatures are expected to return later in the week. Firefighters will be alert to changing conditions.

Management of the Sprague Fire will transition to the Northern Rockies Type II Wildland Fire Management Team on August 25. The team brings expertise in managing long-duration fires in this region. Portions of the fire are expected to burn until extinguished naturally by significant rain or snow. Suppression actions, including helicopter water drops and hose lays and sprinklers, will continue on portions of the fire. Approximately 120 personnel are assigned to the fire, including a wildland fire module, and a hand crew.

The Sprague Fire burned actively yesterday. The fire perimeter is now estimated to be 1,500 acres. Fire activity may be moderated today due to lower temperatures and humidity. Westerly winds are forecasted. The northwest edge of the fire is currently holding in the Snyder Creek drainage. Small spot fires up to two acres in size have become established on top of the south side of Lincoln Ridge. The Sprague Fire was started by lightning on August 10, 2017. It is burning in a mixed conifer forest. The fire is located in steep, rugged terrain, approximately nine miles northeast of West Glacier, Montana.

Firefighters continue to use hose lays and sprinklers near the west edge of the fire at the Crystal Ford footbridge. Sprinklers are set along the first quarter mile of the Snyder Lake Trail as well as the trail to Fish Lake. Firefighters continue proactive clearing of brush to create defensible space around structures in the Lake McDonald area, in the event the fire moves towards these structures.

Firefighters are staged at Sperry Chalet. Structure protection is in place, including two water tanks, hose lays and sprinklers. Given the location of the chalet in a rocky, subalpine environment with sparse vegetation, fire managers are confident that these structure protection measures and personnel can protect the historic buildings if needed.

[NWOhioJeff]

Thanks for update

[Jay w]

Water tank at Sperry. From GNP FB pg.

Jay

[Ear Mountain]

The piddily small amounts of rain that various Montana areas have received is doing nothing to alter the present fire danger. It takes days, weeks or months for woody vegetation to reach the current extremely dry moisture levels. Presently, moisture in woody fuels in less than the lumber sold in lumber yards. It will take an days and weeks of precipitation to bring fuel moisture levels up to where fires will not propagate. What we really need is a big dump of snow to put out the existing fires. Hopefully then new fire starts will be at a minimum. Best thing I can think of is to begin a new and long ski season.

[PeteE]

If this forecast proves correct, it may be good for the hikers, but it's bad news regarding all the fires.

pete

Fire Weather Watchnews

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Missoula MT
234 PM MDT Fri Sep 1 2017

MTZ105-108-022045-
/O.NEW.KMSO.FW.A.0001.170903T1800Z-170905T0300Z/
Flathead/Glacier Park-East Lolo-
234 PM MDT Fri Sep 1 2017

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
MONDAY EVENING...

* Affected area:
Fire Zone 105 (Flathead/Glacier Park).
Fire Zone 108 (East Lolo).

* Impacts: Gusty winds and very low humidity may combine to create
Red Flag conditions Sunday afternoon and evening. Wind will
shift to east Sunday night and remain dry, extending Red Flag
conditions through Monday evening.

* Winds: West 10 to 20 mph, gusting to 30 mph through Sunday late
evening. East wind 10 to 20 mph, gusting to 30 mph Sunday night
through Monday evening.

* Minimum humidities: 8 to 13 percent.

&&

$$

[indiana hiker]

The Sprague fire has grown to over 13,000 acres!
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5510/

[llholmes1948]

A bit of an update from the Hungry Horse News:

http://www.hungryhorsenews.com/article/ ... /170909990

[PeteE]

Im up at Apgar lookout right now.
Wind is blowing 15-20mph and gusting higher.
Sunny and a nice day otherwise.
Wind is blowing pretty much straight up Lake McDonald.
Fire is down on lodge side of Mt Brown quite a ways. Burning more toward the head of the lake and not towards the lodge from what i can tell. Dropping water on it now as I watch.
I see two hot spots judging by smoke. One above the lidge snd one on Snyder ridge
ill have pics and video when I get back home.

pete

[PeteE]

Here are some pictures from the Apgar Lookout around noon today. And some from the beach by the Village Inn after coming down.

These were taken around 1PM today from the Apgar Lookout
I'll get a few short video clips up later.
Gotta eat.

pete

The fire was burning along the top of Snyder Ridge. The helicopters were dipping down near the lodge and dropping in places along the ridge top.


This view is just left of the previous one. You can see the fire on MT Brown. It's not that far above the road and Lake McDonald Lodge. However, the wind is blowing up the lake and away from the lodge at the time here.


Snyder Creek is between those two smokey areas. The lodge is straight down hill from the smokey area on the left.


Mt Brown on the left. Edwards Mt. right center.


Very pleasant afternoon at Apgar---breezy still.


Overall view


Mt Brown will be opened up to the sun now more than before.
Plus, you can see the fire is not all that far above Lake McDonald Lodge. Fortunately, the wind is blowing the fire away at the moment.


Snyder Ridge


Snyder ridge closer up. The fire is burning all along Snyder Ridge and well behind it as well.


PS

Unrelated:
My sister and her husband along with friends who evacuated from the coast are riding out Irma at home.
Sister just texted me.
90mph winds now(8PM EST) and will be around that speed for several more hours peaking at around 110mph.
The eye is forecast to move through Plant City which is just West of them.
That puts them in the NE quadrant near the eye wall, the worst place to be.

[MISSY]

Thanks for all the updates. I don't post much but read the chat every day. Continued prayers for Montana and now those in the path of Irma. Missy

[shadowdan]

Here's a few pics from the Apgar beach today. We got to see the "super scoopers" dropping water. And Mt. Brown Lookout is still there (see last pic).

[here-we-go]

Wow. I know the hurricanes have dominated the news, but we've watched a lot of it (family in FL on both sides, and in NC we were potentially impacted for awhile) and I swear I've not seen 1 single bit of fire coverage.


Oh and Pete the photos of the scooper are so interesting to see, thanks for posting.

[PeteE]

...Oh and Pete the photos of the scooper are so interesting to see, thanks for posting.

Thanks but the credit goes to ShadowDan for those pics

pete