Reynolds Lake Fire Reaches 250 Acres
By angelamontana

Posted: July 18, 2018

Here is information from InciWeb on the Bitterroot valley’s Reynolds Lake fire, which has reached 250 acres as of Wednesday, July 18, 2018, evening:

Firefighters are working to suppress a wildland fire burning on the border of the Bitterroot and Salmon-Challis National Forests near the Reynolds Lake Trailhead, approximately 10 miles SW of Painted Rocks Lake. The fire is approximately 250 acres in size. The fire was reported on Tuesday, July 17 after a lightning event moved across the southern end of the Bitterroot National Forest the night before. 75 personnel are assigned to this incident.

Please respect the airspace and do not fly drones in this area.

Basic Information

Current as of 7/18/2018, 7:47:45 PM
Incident Type Wildfire
Cause Lightning
Date of Origin Tuesday July 17th, 2018 approx. 02:00 PM
Location 10 miles SW of Painted Rocks Lake near the Reynolds Lake Trailhead. West Fork Ranger District.
Incident Commander Jay Wood
Incident Description Wildfire
Coordinates 45.564 latitude, -114.513 longitude

Current Situation

Total Personnel 75
Size 250 Acres
Fuels Involved Heavy timber. High elevation sub-alpine fir with dead standing and down fuels. Numerous hazards including falling trees.
Significant Events Two heavy air tankers and a very large air tanker (VLAT) made multiple fire retardant drops this afternoon to help control the spread. Two helicopters are also assisting crews on the ground with bucket water drops.

Outlook

Planned Actions Firefighters are working to construct line around the fire starting at the heel and working up the flanks. Helicopters are using buckets to drop water in key locations to check fire spread and aviation will continue to be utilized as needed to suppress the fire.
Projected Incident Activity Current resources include 60 firefighters including the Bitterroot Hotshots. There is also multiple aircraft involved (both helicopters and fixed wing) which are assisting with bucket work and retardant drops. Two additional Type 1 Hotshot crews have been ordered and are scheduled to arrive tomorrow.
Remarks Fire is burning in remote location and rugged terrain. Firefighter safety remains a top priority. Numerous snags are in the area which presents a safety threat to firefighters in high wind situations.

Current Weather

Weather Concerns A weak weather disturbance will move through the area today with sustained westerly winds of 20-25pmh and gusts up to 30mph.
(feature photo via ID 100917278 © Elantsev | Dreamstime.com)
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