AM 1240 KLYQ » 41 Complex

Last gasp from the Up Top Fire? – Oct 3

Steve Fullerton — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 22:08:33 +0000

The unseasonably warm weather and wind this weekend caused the Up Top Fire in the 41 Complex of forest fires to spread to the north and east about 500 acres, according to Information Officer Tod McKay of the Bitterroot National Forest

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When You Blow On A Fire … — Sept 26

Steve Fullerton — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 23:28:47 +0000

Wind gusts up to 25 miles per hour pushed the Up Top forest fire another 1,100 acres this weekend. So far, the fire has burned about 11,000 acres in the Bitterroot National Forest and currently is moving toward the east, spotting over into the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest northeast of Dam Lake

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As Expected, Flames Come Back – Sept 24

Steve Fullerton — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 02:52:42 +0000

The Up Top Fire in the 41 Complex of forest fires 8 miles east of Hamilton has begun to "boil" again, with temperatures back into the 80s in the Bitterroot Valley of Montana, according to Bitterroot National Forest information officer Tod McKay

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Fires Could Grow Again – Sept 19

Steve Fullerton — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 15:34:52 +0000

Forest officials expect more smoke from the 41 Complex forest fire later this week, as another few days of 80-degree temperatures are predicted for the Bitterroot Valley. The valley air has been much easier to breathe this past weekend

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The Rain Helped – Sept 17

Steve Fullerton — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 02:44:18 +0000

With Thursday's rain, not much movement from the Up Top Fire in the 41 Complex on the east side of the Bitterroot Valley in the Sapphire Mountains. Crews continued to work on the west side of the fire, working at least 100 feet inside the fire perimeter

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Smokin' – Sept 14

Steve Fullerton — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 00:08:01 +0000

The smoke is making is hard for residents to see the fires surrounding the Bitterroot valley.
A couple of thunderstorm cells grew during the afternoon Wednesday over the Sapphire Mountains in the vicinity of the Fox Peak Fire and then moved off to the east

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Work Continues on 41 Complex Fires – Sept 13

Steve Fullerton — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 16:07:15 +0000

Crews continue to build fire lines on the northwest and southwest portions of the active Up Top Fire, part of the 41 Complex in the Sapphire Mountains, 10 miles east of Hamilton.
Fire traffic has increased on Hamilton Heights Road, as fire crews use that road as a quicker way to access the northwest corner of the fire

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Smoke Increase from Fires – Sept 11

Steve Fullerton — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 03:38:06 +0000

The amount of smoke increased from a couple of burnouts on the Up Top Fire, part of the 41 Complex forest fire in Sapphire Mountains east of Hamilton. The Up Top Fire has been creeping down into Saint Clair Creek and a second contingency fire line has been constructed on private lands to the west of the fire, which is almost 7,000 acres as of Sunday evening

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The Friday Fire Update – Sept 9

Steve Fullerton — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 19:41:08 +0000

As of 7am Friday, the Up Top Fire in the 41 Complex was 5,634 acres. That fire is expected to continue to be active in the dry, hot days to come. The fire has moved south and west in the last 24 hours

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The Fires Continue – Sept 8

Steve Fullerton — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 22:47:25 +0000

The 41 Complex on the east side of the Bitterroot Valley in the Sapphire Mountains has crossed the Skalkaho Highway in numerous places and continues to grow in the hot, dry weather. As of Thursday morning, the largest fire, The Up Top Fire - which caused officials to close the Skalkaho Highway - has burned over 4500 acres so far

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41 Complex is Mainly "Up Top" – Sept 7

Steve Fullerton — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 18:38:54 +0000

The 41 Complex of forest fires in the Sapphire Mountains east of Hamilton is mainly the Up Top Fire, which has now cross Skalkaho Highway on its way south. Of the total 3,700 acres, the Up Top Fire is 3,627 acres, while the 41 Fire is 105 acres and is 90 percent contained, according to Public Affairs Officer Tod McKay

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Where There's Smoke… – Sept 6

Steve Fullerton — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 22:59:56 +0000

The active 41 Complex of forest fires has grown again with an estimated size of 2,800 acres early Tuesday, Sept 6. and from the looks of the smoke column, we'll have a larger acreage total Wednesday

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Skalkaho Pass Is Closed Due to Fire – Sept 5

Steve Fullerton — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 03:35:11 +0000

Monday afternoon, the Montana Department of Highways closed Skalkaho Pass due to the 41 Complex forest fire, 10 miles east of Hamilton.
The fire, started by lightning in late August, is now at least 2,000 acres and put up a large column of smoke Monday

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New Bitterroot Forest Fire Grows – Aug 30

Steve Fullerton — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 22:06:43 +0000

It's called the 41 Complex and it started in a slow-moving lightning storm Sunday night. Tuesday morning, it was about 100 acres. It's bigger now. We'll update you on the size when it becomes available

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Fire Lines Added to Saddle Complex – Aug 30

Steve Fullerton — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 20:57:02 +0000

Lightning caused fires are keeping Forest Service crews busy in Montana and Idaho. The accompanying photo is of the Salt Fire in the Salmon District.
However, the largest fire in the area, the Saddle Complex is about 24,000 acres and is still south of Hughes Creek in the West Fork of the Bitterroot National Forest

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Where there's smoke…..

Steve Fullerton — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 19:32:15 +0000

Lightning has caused at least nine new forest fires on the Bitterroot National Forest, according to Information Officer Tod McKay. The slow-moving storms started Sunday evening.
Four fires are burning east of Hamilton in the Sapphire Mountains on the Darby Ranger District and five smaller fires are burning up the West Fork on the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness

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