Fire started by a lightning strike near Whitefish Divide on 8/14/01.

Acres Burned:
Flathead National Forest 36,000
Glacier National Park 27,600
State Land 6,500
Private 900
71,000 total
88% Contained

Structures:
3 outbuildings lost.
The fire is no longer threatening structures.

Current Resources:
280 personnel (includes 5 crews)
3 helicopters
6 engines
1 water tender
2 excavators, 2 skidders, 1 backhoe

Distance around fireline:
96 miles

Aircraft:
3,800,000 gallons of water dropped by helicopters
364,480 gallons of fire retardant dropped by helicopters
and air tankers

Cooperating agencies:
National Park Service, USDA Forest Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Canadian Ministry of Forestry, numerous State agencies, rural volunteer fire departments, and several private companies.

Suppression cost to date:
$19,265,000

Recent Events
After four days of drying since the last rain, fire activity in the unburned islands of timber within the fire perimeter increased somewhat. Strong winds Wednesday morning fanned the fire in exposed areas and single tree and group torching were common. When the winds subsided, fire behavior changed to creeping and smoldering.

Resources continue to demobilize and either are reassigned to other fires or return home. Management of the fire is scheduled to transition from Chuck Stanich's team back to the respective agencies this coming Friday afternoon.