Hay Creek Fire

Flathead National Forest, Montana

STATISTICS

• Location: 4 miles west of Polebridge, MT

• Date of Origin: July 21, 2021
• Cause: Lightning
• Total fire acres: 2,894 acres
• Containment: 23%

August 9, 2021

INFORMATION

• Phone: (406) 219-1013, 8 am to 8 pm
• Email: 2021.HayCreek@firenet.gov
• InciWeb:https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7712/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/discovertheflathead
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlatheadNF

RESOURCES

• Engines: 14
• 1 Type 2 Crew
• 2 Heavy Equipment Task Forces (dozers, skidgines, excavators, water tenders)

• Helicopters: 2
• Personnel: 210

• Total gallons of water dropped: 754,940
• Fixed-wing flight hrs: 32 • Helicopter flight hrs: 110

INCIDENT UPDATE

An inch of rain fell across the fire over the weekend. Crews are using mechanical equipment to reduce fuels along the Spruce Creek Road and reinforcing shaded fuel breaks being used as contingency lines. Hand prep work is being done along the Red Meadow Road to use as an egress route in case of an evacuation in the area south of the fire. Aircraft did not fly yesterday due to weather.

No additional fire spread was seen on Sunday due to rain. Today the fire will continue to be active only in more sheltered areas that received less moisture, with heavy fuels that are still holding heat. A recon flight is scheduled to happen today to assess the fire. Resources at risk, including private structures and cultural and natural resources in both the Park and Forest continue to be assessed and protected. There will be a community meeting at the Sondreson Hall on Wednesday, August 11, at 6:00 pm.

EVACUATIONS

Evacuation Warnings include all residences east and west of the North Fork Road from Home Ranch Bottoms north to Moose Creek Road and the community of Polebridge. Glacier National Park has issued an Evacuation Warning for the North Fork area of Glacier National Park north of Logging Creek. See details at https://go.usa.gov/xFjcA and Current Fire Information – Glacier National Park.

CLOSURES

Road and trail closures are in place. See details at InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/7712/62192/.

WEATHER AND AIR QUALITY

The chance of rain decreases today, with clouds dissipating after morning. Highs will be in the upper 50s to upper 60s, warming into Tuesday. Expect morning fog Monday into Tuesday. The rest of the week is forecast to return to warmer, dryer weather.

Travelers should drive defensively, due to fire traffic and road construction in the area. For the most current fire weather forecast go to https://www.weather.gov/wrh/fire?wfo=mso. For smoke and air quality go tohttp://svc.mt.gov/deq/todaysair/. For current visibility in Glacier NP seehttps://www.nps.gov/glac/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm.

INCIDENT BACKGROUND

The Hay Creek Fire was reported on the evening of July 21, 2021. It is burning in the North Fork area of the Flathead National Forest at 5,200 – 7,100 feet of elevation and is being managed under a full suppression strategy.

Public and firefighter safety is the number one priority. The fire has no reported injuries to date.

Montana is experiencing EXTREME fire danger; Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are in effect with campfires prohibited. Know Before You Go- Visit www.mtfireinfo.org for additional Montana fire restrictions.

We are celebrating John’s life here at the North Fork Hostel coming May 19, 2018 at 1 PM.

Everybody is welcome. We will tell John stories and share memories, there will also be music and mementoes.

Bring a chair, lounger or hammock. Don’t forget an umbrella if it rains.

We will have a BBQ after we’re done with the remembering. Bring a side or dessert if you want to stick around for it.

Please join us!