WESTERN MONTANA INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                           

For More Information: 

Moose Fire Information Center
(406) 892-8920 or 892-9053
http://206.129.89.60/moose

MOOSE FIRE, Columbia Falls, MT, Sept. 21, 2001 

“Crews are making excellent progress in high priority areas on the North and South flanks of the fire,” according to Bill Swope Incident Commander at the Moose Fire.  A palm infrared spotter is being used to identify hot spots along the perimeter.  Once identified these smoldering fires are cooled off by hand crews and helicopter bucket drops.  The fire size remains at 69,635 acres.  There are currently 640 personnel working on the fire. 

Low humidity and relatively high temperatures have created favorable fire conditions and unburned pockets of fuel within the fire perimeter continue to display active fire behavior.  Crews continue to reinforce control lines and several sections of line have been completed and placed in monitoring status.  

Members of the Western Montana Type II Incident Management Team will host an information meeting at 7:00 pm Friday night at the Blankenship Fire Hall and Monday night at 7:00 pm at the West Glacier Community Center.  The fire camp will present an Open House Sunday afternoon from 1pm to 4 pm.  For more information on these events call 892- 8970 or 892-9053.  Up-to-date information, current fire perimeter maps and photos are available on the Moose Fire web site at http://206.129.89.60/moose

The Flathead National Forest continues to offer tours of the fire area.  For additional information, contact the Flathead National Forest at 758-5200 or 387-3800.

###

Return to Moose Fire