Firefighters prepare for weekend wind's potential impact on Elder fire

While firefighters are preparing for the change, efforts to contain the fire have made significant progress, forest personnel report.

With the combined efforts of approximately 232 personnel and favorable weather conditions, firefighters made significant progress Thursday. As of Friday morning, the approximately 1,032 acre fire is 14% contained, according to a Lolo National Forest news release.

The fire, which was first detected on July 24 following intense lightning storms in the area, has grown by approximately 400 acres over the past week. 

Road closures remain in place, and while there are no fire restrictions in the forest as of Friday, forest personnel encourage the public to recreate safely and utilize fire safety practices while winds and dry heat persist.

Thursday’s favorable weather conditions will continue Friday, but a fire weather watch has been issued for Saturday afternoon and evening in response to a predicted dry cold front.

The front is expected to bring in winds ranging from 25-40 miles an hour, which forest personnel say is a concern.

While no storms are expected, the atmosphere is expected to become fairly unstable during the frontal passage.

Firefighters are working to confirm structure protection plans and ensuring line resources have clear, safe egress routes in preparation for the weekend should conditions change quickly.

As of Friday, all spot fires on the south side of Rock Creek are contained, and crews are continuing to mop up remaining heat along the south flank.

Crews successfully constructed a direct handline on the west flank which is holding, according to the release.

Crews constructed a dozer line along the ridge on the northwest corner of the fire, near Albert Point, and reinforced it with fire retardant. Crews plan to complete firing operations on this line Friday, according to the release.

Most of the fire line is in place on the east flank and crews will burn out a remaining section of the indirect line Friday to strengthen the area.

Firefighting efforts include six hand crews, six engines, two helicopters, three bulldozers and six water tenders.

Though the fire has burned within a large transmission line corridor, it has remained entirely within the national forest, and currently is not threatening structures. Forest personnel are not anticipating that the fire will grow to reach any structures, but noted that fire is unpredictable and with the weekend winds growth cannot entirely be ruled out.

An area and road closure around the fire is in effect starting Friday. Updates and changes to closures are expected to be posted online at inciweb.wildfire.gov and fs.usda.gov/r01/lolo/alerts.

The most recent closure order issued Tuesday includes upper portions of Albert Creek Road, Corral Creek Road and other forest roads and trails within a roughly 50-square-mile area south of Huson.

Additionally, a temporary flight restriction has been implemented over the fire area, with forest personnel specifically referencing the dangers of using drones in the area. 

“Firefighting aircraft and drones are a dangerous combination,” the release reads. “Drones in the area could lead to accidents or slow down wildfire suppression operations. If you fly … we can’t.”