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. 24, 2001

Open house at Moose Camp a Success. Sunday afternoon the Moose Fire camp hosted an open house. Over 200 valley residents took advantage of the event. The tour showed visitors how a fire camp and helibase operate.

There was a column of smoke seen from the valley Sunday afternoon. This was the result of a successful burn out operation in the Lookout Creek area. It will help fortify the fire line in this area, allowing crews to attack other problem areas. Crews have kept the fire to the west of the inside road in the McGee meadows area.

The continuing hot dry weather has helped increase the size of the Moose fire. The current size is now 69,890 acres. Fire crews are being supported by helicopters making water drops in problem areas. Fire crews continue to mop-up, patrol and secure lines. Unburned islands of fuel within the fire perimeter have ignited to cause smoky conditions. Fire crews continue to monitor and reinforce control lines. Resources committed on the fire include 641 personnel; 17 Crews, 6 Helicopters, 23 Engines, 8 Dozers and 7 Water Tenders.

 The Team will 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.

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