The Forestry Forum

General Forestry => Sawmills and Milling => Topic started by: Mt406 on August 21, 2017, 12:42:30 AM

Title: Montana Burning
Post by: Mt406 on August 21, 2017, 12:42:30 AM
Though you mite like to see some of the photos.
I think there is 25 fires burning here in the state.
Two major ones just north of me in the area I grew up.
Lolo peak fire 30,700 acers and one across the valley also over 30K
yesterday there were 750 home evacuated with a possible of 1500 more.
These fires are 150 miles north and west of me but the smoke here has viability down to a half mile some times.
I will post more pics as they are sent to me.

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/33427/IMG_515788720334705.jpeg?easyrotate_cache=1503287595) 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/33427/IMG_537816612971158.jpeg?easyrotate_cache=1503287594) 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/33427/IMG_539094141773818.jpeg?easyrotate_cache=1503287594) 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/33427/IMG_515424667061458.jpeg?easyrotate_cache=1503287593) 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/33427/IMG_539190645809928.jpeg?easyrotate_cache=1503287596) 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/33427/IMG_539244316331366.jpeg?easyrotate_cache=1503287597) 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/33427/IMG_539132372895522.jpeg?easyrotate_cache=1503287598) 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/33427/IMG_539266460851721.jpeg?easyrotate_cache=1503287599) 
Title: Re: Montana Burning
Post by: Darrel on August 21, 2017, 12:48:40 AM
Not pretty, and unfortunately, Oregon is in much the same boat. About 30 fires burning out of control in the cascades. That's what dry thunderstorms do for us.
Title: Re: Montana Burning
Post by: Kbeitz on August 21, 2017, 05:32:51 AM
What a waste of good wood...
Title: Re: Montana Burning
Post by: Chuck White on August 21, 2017, 06:26:37 AM
Really looks scary!    :o

Stay safe!
Title: Re: Montana Burning
Post by: DDW_OR on August 21, 2017, 01:57:53 PM
fire map
https://www.geomac.gov/viewer/viewer.shtml

Title: Re: Montana Burning
Post by: Brucer on August 23, 2017, 12:01:42 AM
BC is burning as well. We've had hundreds of small wildfires and a few big ones. About 45,000 people under evacuation order at one point. Earlier this month 2017 became the worst year for BC wildfires ever recorded (the previous worst year was 1958).

Today 19 wildfires combined to make the single largest fire in BC's history: 467,000 hectares or 1.17 million acres. That's over 1800 square miles in a single fire.

Fortunately there are relatively few communities at risk right now.
Title: Re: Montana Burning
Post by: Darrel on August 23, 2017, 12:08:13 AM
Dry thunderstorm goin on right now, so more fires more smoke. Not fun!
Title: Re: Montana Burning
Post by: Mt406 on August 23, 2017, 01:42:51 AM
The  forecast  for  Tuesday  dry lightning  50% chance.
I am  building  a 300 gal slip  tank for my pickup  it should  be  done  end of week.
There's not enough  fire  equipment  to put  out a camp  fire  around  here.
Local  fire department  is 30 min  away. so kinda  on my own .
Title: Re: Montana Burning
Post by: justallan1 on August 26, 2017, 07:15:21 PM
We've been very lucky in south eastern Montana. The ranch I work for has had 4 in the past 2 weeks, but we got extremely lucky on 2 and got on them and were able to keep them to just a few acres apiece. Another was just over 150 acres when we got it contained and the last got us for right at 360 acres and was just in a horrible spot, plus the winds were really giving us a lot of grief.
I can't say enough about all of the response teams that came together on the big fire. We had 2 rigs from one county, 3-4 rigs from our county, DNRC was there with several rigs, two helocopters and one tanker at least, PLUS hot shot crews from New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania and a new bunch on there first season from Alaska....All of them great folks to talk with and every last one of them busting butt to get things done. The ranch that I work for is in 3 counties so it gets confusing as to who is running the show, but all of these folks were able to listen to one guy and everything went great.
I really want to thank any of you who do this for a living. I just can't say enough about anyone willing to walk away from their families and homes to put yourselves in the predicaments that you do with these fires. I did this stuff when I was younger and know what you all are putting yourselves through, thank you very much.
On a good note the big fire here left me with probably 50 unburned trees that got pushed over dozing a perimeter line and another couple hundred that were fire killed but still in great shape. Lets just see if I can't make some time and get back to sawing some lumber.
Title: Re: Montana Burning
Post by: Darrel on August 26, 2017, 07:38:11 PM
Glad to hear that the crews are working well together and getting a handle on things. I am always amazed to see crews come together from so many parts of the country or even the world. They always work together as a team, you'd think that they trained together. There is nothing I know of that can be compared to the teamwork of different fire crews working together.
Title: Re: Montana Burning
Post by: WV Sawmiller on August 26, 2017, 07:46:37 PM
    Saw this on Yahoo. Interesting way to get a forest fire started.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/snake-eating-hawk-started-huge-211739150.html
Title: Re: Montana Burning
Post by: barbender on August 26, 2017, 09:19:46 PM
Allan, I was wondering how you've been faring out there, my uncle said your country is producing plenty of smoke.
Title: Re: Montana Burning
Post by: justallan1 on August 27, 2017, 10:49:29 AM
Quote from: barbender on August 26, 2017, 09:19:46 PM
Allan, I was wondering how you've been faring out there, my uncle said your country is producing plenty of smoke.
All of the real bad fires and larger ones are to west of us and producing bunches of smoke. I drive around my end of the ranch every morning checking waters and looking for fires and I really have to take my time to see, it's pretty limited visibility for sure.
We have bunches of out of state fire crews stationed at the motel here that are on new fires every day it sounds like, plus DNRC is staying pretty close. It's definitely a day to day deal this time of year.
Title: Re: Montana Burning
Post by: barbender on August 27, 2017, 03:03:42 PM
I wish I could send you some of our rain!
Title: Re: Montana Burning
Post by: PA_Walnut on August 28, 2017, 02:46:04 AM
Unfortunate, but kudos for some really great photos!
Title: Re: Montana Burning
Post by: ozarkgem on August 28, 2017, 05:14:15 AM
I drove through BC 3 weeks ago and the smoke was burning my eyes inside my car. Good photos