9-6-22 Fire Information: Murray Fire
Author: JB Howick, MT43 News
9-6-22 FIRE INFORMATION: MURRAY FIRE
Montana Dept. of Natural Resources & Conservation County Assist Team
Incident Objectives: 1) Protect human life; firefighter, aviation, and public safety are of the utmost importance. 2) Implement a safe and aggressive full suppression strategy utilizing direct and indirect tactics where safe and appropriate to do so. 3) Protect infrastructure, property, and natural resources.
Fire Summary: Firefighters worked with local landowners to establish and improve access for crews and heavy equipment to the fire. Aviation resources worked in conjunction with smokejumpers and a hotshot crew to establish control lines where safe and effective to do so. The fire is estimated to be 55 acres and is currently 0% contained. Coordinating agencies on the fire include Montana DNRC, USFS, and BLM.
Fire Situation: The fire was reported at 6:00 am on September 5th and the cause is under investigation. There are no evacuations in effect, and roads in the fire area are open to local traffic only for firefighter and public safety. Firefighters are working to keep fire growth to a minimum using aircraft to slow the fires forward progress while ground crews work to establish control lines. Fire crews are preparing for red flag conditions tomorrow, with forecasts calling for temperatures in the upper 80s and wind gusts up to 40 mph.
“In anticipation of the high winds and red flag conditions tomorrow crews worked to establish safe ingress and egress routes from the fire while working with aircraft to establish control lines.” - Cory Calnan, CAT Operations Section Chief
“The fire is burning in steep rugged terrain, and fire crews are using the resources and judgement necessary to safely engage and suppress the fire.” – Erin Carey, BLM Missoula Field Manager
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PhotoCredit: DNRC - County Assist Team
