I just read that red lodge engine 78 got burned over on a fire by Joliet. 2 crew members. 1 was severely burned and flown to salt lake.

I've fought fire with that engine and numerous people from that dept. I'm trying to find out who it was.

Sad deal.

https://www.ktvq.com/news/local-news/red-lodge-firefighter-severely-burned-fighting-fire-near-joliet?_amp=true

https://www.facebook.com/228330707212694/posts/4166824173363308/

Injured Red Lodge Firefighter Identified

Red Lodge Fire Rescue has identified the firefighter injured yesterday on the
Harris Fire near Joliet, Montana as Dan Steffensen.  Dan has been a firefighter with Red Lodge Fire since 2015.  In 2017 Dan was selected as volunteer “Firefighter of the Year” and works on the fuel mitigation/Initial Attack crew where in the summers he works to reduce hazardous fuels around homes and responds to emerging wildland fires. He is a nationally qualified wildland firefighter and has fought fires in Montana, Oregon, California and other western states as an engine boss and tender operator.

Scott Wilson has been identified as the other Red Lodge firefighter on the two-person crew. He was not injured. Scott Wilson joined the fire department this year after retiring to Red Lodge. Dan, Scott and all the other Red Lodge firefighters have committed themselves to regular training and preparation for these kinds of responses.

At the time of the incident, Dan and Scott were fighting the Harris Fire when strong winds suddenly shifted toward them.  Dan attempted to reach safety, but was overrun by the fast moving fire.  Scott acted quickly to inform the incident commander and get Dan to Emergency Medical care.  Due to the severity of his burns, Dan has been admitted to the University of Utah Burn Center in Salt Lake City.  He is in serious condition. His family and firefighting colleagues are travelling to be with him.  

“We’d like to thank the wildland firefighting community for reaching out to us with offers of help and words of support.  Please keep Dan and his family in your thoughts and prayers during these difficult times,” said Fire Chief Tom Kuntz.  “This event is a reminder that firefighting is dangerous and we are truly grateful to those who answer the call to help others in time of need.”

Those wanting to help support Dan Steffensen (pictured on the left) and his family can donate via the Go Fund me page set up for his benefit. https://gofund.me/afe4ca97

#Harrisfire

That sucks. We can still shoot here, for now...

5 more firefighters Injured. This is getting nuts.

https://www.kulr8.com/fires/5-firefighters-injured-while-battling-devils-creek-fire/article_c816a11c-ebcb-11eb-b91c-63d5b8115c21.html

https://news.yahoo.com/public-meeting-saturday-hay-creek-021600469.html

Jul. 23—Firefighters continued their battle with two wildland fires that began this week in Flathead County.

The Hay Creek Fire is listed at 250 acres 5 miles west of Polebridge. There has been no containment, according to U.S. Forest Service fire officials. The blaze began Wednesday and while the cause is unknown, lightning strikes occurred in the area during Tuesday's thunderstorms.

A Type 3 Incident Management Team took over the fire Friday morning and a community meeting is scheduled at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Sondreson Community Hall parking lot.

Pre-evacuation notices were given for 20 structures in the area.

A number of closures are also in effect for the area as well as roads and trails on the Hungry Horse-Glacier View Ranger District on the Flathead National Forest.

Road closures include:

—Forest Service Road 115, also known as Red Meadow Road, from its intersection with the North Fork Road to its junction with Forest Service Road 589;

—Forest Service Road 376, also known as Hay Creek Road, from its junction with Forest Service Road 909 to its end to the west;

—Forest Service Road 5241.

Trail closures include:

—Trail 3, the Hay Creek Trail (Part of the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail);

—Trail 26, the Whitefish Divide (Part of the Ralph Thayer National Recreation Trail) from its end with Forest Service Road 115 to its junction with trail 14;

—Trail 14, the Coal Ridge Trail from its end with Trail 26 to its junction with Trail 2.

—Trail # 2 Moran Creek.

Violations may result in fines from $5,000 to $10,000 and a jail term of up to six months.

Officials are asking travelers in the North Fork to slow down, maintain safe distance in dusty or smoky conditions with low visibility, and to watch for and respect one another and fire traffic.

Fire crews reported active fire behavior Thursday night. Due to safety concerns associated with steep terrain, thick timber, and current fuel conditions, fire managers are using indirect tactics.

On Friday, firefighters planned to continue brushing out roads and improving fuel breaks on the Hay Creek, Red Meadow, and Spruce Creek roads, as assessing the need for future structure protection.

For more information, call the Hungry Horse-Glacier View Ranger District office at 406-387-3818.

https://dailyinterlake.com/news/2021/jul/25/evacuation-warning-area-expanded-hay-creek-fire/



By Daily Inter Lake
| July 25, 2021 3:00 PM
Officials expanded the evacuation warning area for a wildfire that continues to spread on the Flathead Forest just west of Polebridge.

The Hay Creek Fire grew to an estimated 1,158 acres on Sunday. Calmer winds helped the firefighting effort on Saturday as the blaze backed down to Hay Creek Road. Two helicopters dropped water to help control fire spread, including on a new spot fire.

The evacuation warning area now includes Moose Creek Road, Red Meadow Road, all residents on both sides of the North Fork Road between Moose Creek Road and Home Ranch Bottoms, Polebridge Loop 655, 700, 720, and 740 Polebridge Drive.

The community of Polebridge, residents of Glacier Drive, and the remainder of residents not previously identified for Polebridge Loop are not in the warning area.

While the fire is not in Glacier National Park, it could affect visitors, park officials warned Sunday. Backcountry permits are no longer being issued for areas north of Polebridge as a precautionary measure in case the blaze expands into that area. The area remains open for day-use and frontcountry camping.

STAGE 2 fire restrictions begin Monday for all of Northwest Montana, including the Flathead Forest and Glacier National Park. Campfires are not allowed under Stage 2 rules and off-road travel is limited.

Most of western Montana is experiencing extreme fire danger and is in Stage 2 fire restrictions.

Air quality deteriorated to unhealthy levels Sunday in the Flathead Valley. Montana’s air quality is being impacted by smoke from the Bootleg Fire in Oregon and the Dixie Fire in California. Smoke plumes from those massive fires are visible as far away as southwestern Montana. Northwestern Montana is experiencing smoke impacts partially from fires in British Columbia.

High pressure building into the region will keep conditions very warm and dry on Monday, the National Weather Service in Missoula warned. Thunderstorms are possible beginning Tuesday for Northwest Montana.

July 27, 2021 Hay Creek Fire Update
Hay Creek Wildfire
News – 3 hrs. ago
INFORMATION

Phone: (406) 219-1013, 8 am to 8 pm
Email: [email protected]
InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7712/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/discovertheflathead
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlatheadNF
STATISTICS

Location: 4 miles west of Polebridge, MT
Date of Origin: July 21, 2021
Cause: Lightning
Total fire acres: 1,350 acres (no overnight infrared mapping since 7/25)
Containment: 0%
RESOURCES

Engines: 9
1 Type 2 Crew: 20 people
2 Heavy Equipment Task Forces (Dozers, Skidgine, Excavators, water tenders)
Helicopters: 1 Type 1 helicopter
Personnel: 127
INCIDENT UPDATE

On Monday, afternoon cloud cover moderated fire activity. The fire remained active on the west flank, exhibiting isolated and group tree torching and short wind-driven crown runs. The priority objective is holding the line at the Hay Creek Road. Crews are laying hose and will potentially initiate firing operations to burn the remaining available fuels along the road if conditions allow. Spot fires to the south of the road were checked by bucket drops for the second day. Heavy equipment task forces will continue work to widen existing roads to connect past silvicultural forest treatments and build contingency lines.

A new spot fire was detected on the lower third of the south facing aspect in front of the east flank, estimated at ¼ acre. The spot is expected to establish and burn out available fuels ahead of the main fire.

Active fire behavior will likely continue to be observed at night due to low humidity and warm evening temperatures.

EVACUATIONS

The Flathead County Sheriff’s department has expanded the phased Evacuation Warning to include all residences east and west of the North Fork Road from Home Ranch Bottoms north to and including Moose Creek Road and the community of Polebridge. Glacier National Park (NP) has issued an Evacuation Warning for the North Fork area of Glacier NP north of Logging Creek. See details at https://go.usa.gov/xFjcA and Current Fire Information - Glacier National Park.

CLOSURES

Road and trail closures are in place. See details at Inciweb: https://go.usa.gov/xFjcC.

WEATHER AND AIR QUALITY

Warm, dry, breezy conditions are forecasted for today. For the most current fire weather forecast go to https://www.weather.gov/wrh/fire?wfo=mso. For smoke and air quality go to http://svc.mt.gov/deq/todaysair/.

For current visibility in Glacier NP see https://www.nps.gov/glac/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm.

INCIDENT BACKGROUND

The Hay Creek Fire was reported on the evening of July 21, 2021. It is burning in the North Fork area of the Flathead National Forest and is being managed by a local Type 3 Incident Management Team under a full suppression strategy using aviation resources and indirect tactics.

Public and firefighter safety is the number one priority. Additional priorities include minimizing impacts to private property, structures and critical infrastructure, and road corridors. Due to high fire activity in our region and across the country, resources are limited and are prioritized to areas of greatest values-at-risk.

PREVENTION MESSAGE

Most of Montana is experiencing EXTREME fire danger; Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are in effect. Know Before You Go- Visit www.mtfireinfo.org for Montana fire restrictions.

Damn. Thats a big doug fir.

The Hay Creek Fire as seen looking west from Polebridge on the evening of July 30, 2021

We IA'D a fire off I90 just west of Lockwood. It was rocking when we got here but we had a windshift that pushed it away from the Interstate and back into the hills. Currently sitting on it on night shift.

Hay Creek fire camp after the rains.

New start on the rez.

Yuck. Mine flares up once in a while. Massage is the only thing that works on me. Dry needling did in the beginning but eventually it stopped.

It sure is nice.

It out some things in check for a while but we are still not out if the woods. A few days of heat and wind and we are game on again.