Fire Season is Upon Us

[Deleted member 48080]

@theat and I were trying to figuring out where we were smelling smoke from last night. Turns out the answer is everywhere.

I've got plumes in all four directions right now. Going to be a long next couple months.

 

[Hem]

It's interesting. I know where that fire is and it scares me to death it will get North in a hurry. Looks closer than what it is from my driveway. One of the guys I work with is good friends with the owner of a helicopter that was up there last night. mtmuley

Wind squirrely next day down there. Keeping fingers crossed it doesn't blow towards Skalkaho Pass.

 

[BigHornRam]

Stony creek campground...Rock creek side.

From Stoney lake to Rock Creek is dense timber. That would not be a good place to be, and I can't imagine they will keep it open.

 

[TheTone]

One thing about fire season is it brings out some serious dumb in people; a Facebook group I follow has people accusing the forest service of dumping diesel from helicopters on the fire near salmon.

 

[BigHornRam]

It's interesting. I know where that fire is and it scares me to death it will get North in a hurry. Looks closer than what it is from my driveway. One of the guys I work with is good friends with the owner of a helicopter that was up there last night. mtmuley

Smoke is all drifting north this evening. Hope it doesn't make it to your place Muley.

 

[mtmuley]

Smoke is all drifting north this evening. Hope it doesn't make it to your place Muley.

Anything that burns is sad. Just selfish of my stomping grounds. I hope they get a handle on this one. Could be bad. mtmuley

 

[Salmonchaser]

Drove from LaGrande to Ennis yesterday, it's getting smoky. There is so much grass everywhere this year with the wet spring, could be the start of a real bad year.
Ya all be careful.

 

[AlaskaHunter]

Record wildfire year in western Canada. . .
27 million acres — surpassing a previous record of approximately 17.5 million acres in 1995.
Ironically, not much happening in terms of fire in Alaska.
South of the Alaska Range has been an extremely cool and wet summer,
while the interior north of the Alaska Range continues with perfect summer weather.

 

[antlerradar]

View attachment 284932
From my driveway just now. Same fire Bighorn posted. mtmuley

Looks dry, and lots of stuff to burn at your place.
Still fairly green in SE MT. A few fires on the forest, but nothing to get excited about.

 

[Beignet]

Nameless called it:

 

[BigHornRam]

Looking at Skalkaho from Roaring Lion this morning. Smoke is settling in. Inspite of warm and breezy day yesterday, fire was not near as active as it was on Friday. 10 day forecast for warm weather and no rain, so fingers crossed it doesn't get too big.

 

[Hem]

Looking at Skalkaho from Roaring Lion this morning. Smoke is settling in. Inspite of warm and breezy day yesterday, fire was not near as active as it was on Friday. 10 day forecast for warm weather and no rain, so fingers crossed it doesn't get too big.

View attachment 285172

We were planning on staying in the Stony cabin with a younger couple who have a 4 month baby. Mom wasn't psyched to take a chance with that fire blowing up, even though my best calculations put that fire about 12-13 miles away. Bailed on the cabin. Just as well, I was hoping to explore up drainage for fishing and didn't want to deal with tourons on Rock creek.
Plan B, went East and spent the day on the banks of the Yellowstone drinking cold ones. Paddled Ruby reservoir at day break today.

 

[mtmuley]

Looking at Skalkaho from Roaring Lion this morning. Smoke is settling in. Inspite of warm and breezy day yesterday, fire was not near as active as it was on Friday. 10 day forecast for warm weather and no rain, so fingers crossed it doesn't get too big.

View attachment 285172

I noticed it had laid down some. Guy I work with is good friends with the owner of a helicopter company here. Might get some insider info tomorrow. mtmuley

 

[Deleted member 20812]

Plan B, went East and spent the day on the banks of the Yellowstone drinking cold ones. Paddled Ruby reservoir at day break today.

Sid on guard watch . Trying to figure out a good way to hold my beer on the paddle board.

 

[Hem]

Sid on guard watch . Trying to figure out a good way to hold my beer on the paddle board.

Two gwp and a griffon. All good playing in the water until my female started chasing killdeer. She chased those little guys back and forth , up and down the island and after an hour caught one.
Soft mouth retrieve to the tent. We got the bird from her on the waters edge, she spent the next hour looking for that bird at the bottom of the river, in over her head.
Try beer after paddling.

 

[Southern Elk]

Thundering outside now. Makes me nervous this time of year.

 

[Nameless Range]

Though the Colt Fire is not really threatening the community of Seeley Lake, I often think there are two towns in Montana that will certainly one day burn to the ground - one is Seeley Lake, and the other is Lincoln. Nothing but a continuity of timber from the hills around into the hearts of those towns. The local fire warden sent all the VFDs a little email about a close call that occurred on the Colt Fire last Thursday. Though this summer has been forgiving, things can and will still get wild and wooly.

Officials update community with public meeting on Colt Fire

An overnight infrared flight over the Colt Fire flight now maps the fire at about 4,390 acres, up more 1,500 acres from Monday.Flames made a three-quarter mil

nbcmontana.com

 

[millerkiller77]

I'm curious if the FD in other states hold press conferences where they congratulate each other and give sloppy reach arounds to similar sympathetic departments that suck on the same tax nipple.
On the west coast it's usually a 15 minute diatribe where they pat everyone involved on the back , then thank themselves for working together with a different leach that is sucking blood from the same host. Last 30 seconds of the press release is dedicated to discussing the actual event.

 

[FI460]

I'm curious if the FD in other states hold press conferences where they congratulate each other and give sloppy reach arounds to similar sympathetic departments that suck on the same tax nipple.
On the west coast it's usually a 15 minute diatribe where they pat everyone involved on the back , then thank themselves for working together with a different leach that is sucking blood from the same host. Last 30 seconds of the press release is dedicated to discussing the actual event.

That has not been my experience in either southern oregon or Northern California. The public meetings are generally informative and the incident commanders have been pretty good for the last decade or so.

 

[Oak]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1684349825993654277

Ripper north of Gunnison today. Those flame lengths are not ideal.