OWL FIRE UPDATE

Fire Information:

Information desk, 406-646-0343

Joe Mazzeo, 617-697-6721

Jan Ulrich

Catherine Hibbard

Southern Area Type 2 Incident Management Team

Sunday, July 29, 2007

8:00 AM

Location

20 miles N/NE of West Yellowstone within the boundaries of Yellowstone National Park

Estimated Acreage

2,800 acres

Containment

18 percent

Cause and Date Started

Lightning, July 20

Resources on the Fire

20-person fire crews: 12   Helicopters: 2 Overhead: 120 Camp Crews: 2

Total Personnel:  402

Cooperators

USDA Forest Service, Park County, Gallatin County, West Yellowstone Fire Department

Restrictions and Closures

Some trails and backcountry campsites near the Owl Fire are temporarily closed. Details are available by calling the Yellowstone Backcountry Office at 307-344-2160 during business hours.

Fire Management

Two more miles of fire line were constructed yesterday by twelve 20-person hand crews.  Fire line in Division D, located in the northwest corner of the fire was completed. The fire was smoldering in areas of heavy concentration of fuels. Workers began stocking a spike camp to place firefighters closer to the fire perimeter and save travel time to the fire area. Based on recent weather patterns (48 hours of rain showers) and continued patterns of a similar nature, the fire plan was updated to reflect a direct containment strategy. If critical resources are filled, the chosen management strategy should succeed within 20 days.

Plans for today

Firefighters will continue direct and indirect fire line construction.  Preparation of the spike camp will continue. 

Fire weather and behavior

Typical hot, dry weather with decreasing relative humidity and a chance of isolated thunderstorms are predicted for today. There is a slight chance for increased fire activity.

Other Fire Information

The fire is burning is steep, rugged terrain that is accessible only by trail or helicopter. It is in areas that were impacted by the 1988 fires and which contain heavy concentrations of standing and down snags.

Recorded Information

Additional information is available 24- hours a day by calling 307-344-2580 or on the web at  http://www.inciweb.org/incident/855