Ursus Fire explodes in Bob Marshall Wilderness

Ursus Fire explodes in Bob Marshall Wilderness
By Moosetrack Megan

Posted: September 6, 2022

The Ursus Fire was reported on 8/25/2022 and confirmed on 8/31/2022. It is burning on the south side of Rapid Creek at the base of Ursus Hill, approximately 1.5 miles up the Rapid Creek drainage. The fire is located in the Bob Marshall Wilderness on the Spotted Bear Ranger District.

Fire activity picked up significantly during the afternoon of 9/5/2022. An Infrared Mapping flight reported the fire at 23 acres at 1330 on 9/5, by 1800 the fire was estimated at 1,580 acres. The fire is spreading to the east; sustained crown runs and spotting have been observed by Jumbo Lookout and members of the Spotted Bear Wildland Fire Module (WFM). The Ursus Fire will reach the 2012 Elbow Pass burn scar near the head of Rapid Creek if it continues to burn toward the east, which should act as a buffer to slow the spread of the fire in that direction.

A point/zone protection strategy will be implemented by the Spotted Bear Ranger District to protect the Danaher and Basin Administrative Cabin sites and to prevent the spread of the wildfire outside of the Wilderness. Personnel from the Spotted Bear WFM were inserted into the area on 9/2/2022. They have begun structure protection operations by installing sprinklers at the Danaher Administrative Site.

It is recommended to avoid the Rapid Creek drainage at this time; an official closure order is pending. New information will be posted as soon as it is available.

Ursus Fire explodes in Bob Marshall WildernessBy Moosetrack Megan

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Ursus Fire explodes in Bob Marshall Wilderness
By Moosetrack Megan