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WESTERN MONTANA INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MOOSE
FIRE, Columbia Falls, MT, Sept.
22, 2001
The Moose Fire continues
to challenge suppression efforts. Active fire behavior with trees
torching has been observed in several areas of the fire.
Fire crews are being supported by helicopters making water drops
in problem areas. Fire crews continue to mop-up, patrol and secure
lines. The fire size
increased by approximately 250 acres Friday within Glacier National
Park. The current size is
approximately 69,615 acres. Resources
committed on the fire include 601 personnel; 16 Crews, 6 Helicopters, 22
Engines, 6 Dozers and 7 Water Tenders.
Personnel on this fire arrived from many areas of the country.
Montanans are being assisted by people from as far away as Rhode
Island, North Carolina, Arizona and Alaska. The current weather
conditions of low humidity and relatively high temperatures favor fire
activity. Unburned islands
of fuel within the fire perimeter have ignited to cause smoky
conditions. Fire crews continue to monitor and reinforce control lines. A check in the amount of
$3,510.00 was presented to the Red Cross for the aid and relief efforts
to New York City and Washington, D.C. from the firefighters and support
personnel of the Moose Fire Camp. Members of the Western
Montana Type II Incident Management Team will hold an Open House at the
Moose Fire Camp from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm on Sunday, September 23, 2001.
The Team will also host an information meeting at 7:00 pm at the West
Glacier Community Center on Monday, September 24, 2001.
For more information on these events call the Fire Information
Center at 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 bus tours of the fire area. For additional information contact the Flathead National Forest at 758-5200. |