2017 was a record year for Wildland Fire in Montana with some 1.4 million acres burned. Fortunately, the North Fork escaped large fires. However, with our long history of large fires in 1988, 2001 and 2003, it is only a matter of time before we see large fire return to the North Fork. Many North Fork residents have taken advantage… Read more →
FireSafe Flathead and Flathead Valley Community College are hosting a 4-part Community Lecture Series on Wildfire in Western Montana. This first evening we will learn about the history of fire in our area. Where: FVCC Arts and Technology Building, AT139 When: Thursday, February 22 from 6 – 8pm Contact: FireSafe Flathead at firesafeflathead@gmail.com or Ali at 751-2270 for more information… Read more →
We are in good shape being out of season with reasonable moisture – snowpack is around 123% of normal for the Flathead. I was just in Albuquerque last week, and they are in continued drought with their ski area unable to open because they have more bare ground than they do snow cover. Grim. Jackson Wyoming just cancelled a Skijoring… Read more →
We thought that North Forkers would be interested in reading the Western Region National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy September Newsletter. It begins… This has been a particularly tough season for stakeholders in the West. Cohesive Strategy’s Western Region and its partners are leading the charge to facilitate identification and implementation of collaborative, cross-boundary solutions to the complex, landscape-level issues we are… Read more →
Here is the link to the September/October/November Wildland Fire Outlook: https://www.nifc.gov/nicc/predictive/outlooks/monthly_seasonal_outlook.pdf For September in the Northern Rockies: Above Normal significant large fire potential is expected in all areas except Yellowstone National Park and eastern North Dakota in September where Normal Potential is expected. In October Above Normal significant large fire potential will continue across the southern Idaho Panhandle and across… Read more →
This link takes you to a map that shows in real-time the lightning strikes in our area. https://www.lightningmaps.org/?lang=en#m=sat;r=0;t=2;s=0;o=0;b=;n=0;y=48.5183;x=-113.6441;z=7;d=2;dl=2;dc=0; There is also an IOS app called “My Lightning Tracker” that you might try. It sends you notifications (alerts) when lightening strikes in your area.
Following is a report from co-chairs Molly Shepherd and Allen Chrisman… The NFLA’s Fire Mitigation Committee sponsored its annual Firewise Day workshop on July 19, 2017, immediately preceding the Summer Interlocal meeting. About 55 people attended. The program was compelling and well-received by attendees. Our principal speaker was Byron Bonney, who had a long and distinguished career with the Forest… Read more →
Here is the Outlook for Wildland Fire for August/September/October: https://www.nifc.gov/nicc/predictive/outlooks/monthly_seasonal_outlook.pdf This Outlook better represents the conditions we are seeing, both up the North Fork as well in more severe burning conditions across the rest of Montana. This is in sharp contrast to the forecast from Predictive Services we received at our IMT Spring Meetings which forecasted a “slow normal” fire… Read more →
This is a new closure order from Rob Davies, District Ranger of the Forest Service, via Allen Chrisman on the Kootenai, as a result of the Gibraltar Ridge Fire in the Eureka area. This closure effects travel from the North Fork over Trail Creek onto the Kootenai. We will be posting signs today at the North Fork (junction of North… Read more →
I see that according to Kootenai Dispatch WildCAD, there is a new large fire (estimated 500 acres) 7 miles east of Eureka in lower Graves Creek. It is about 20 miles due west of the North Fork Road at Whale Creek. A Type 2 Incident Management Team has been ordered. Rick Connell’s Western Montana IMT has been reserved, which means… Read more →