After a good dousing of rain over the last weekend (the picture with this post was taken last Sunday afternoon, when the Scotchmans got .75 ± inches of precipitation), and cooler temperatures all week, the three large fires burning in the Scotchmans have continued to cool. The most active at this point is the Sawtooth Fire, which is in the South and Middle Forks of Ross Creek. This Friday afternoon, from our Heron office, we are seeing a bit of smoke in the air, but that seems to be floating in from the east, possibly from the Grizzly Complex, which is south of Trout Creek, about 25 east of the Scotchmans.
For the complete update from the Forest Service (which is really a bunch of very good news) download the latest report on the Clark Fork Complex.
Our backcountry ranger intern Brita Olson was co-opted by the Forest Service on August 20, and served a two week stint with them as head “gopher” and occasional interim dispatcher on the Cabinet District (watch for posts from her about her time helping with the fires). While on duty, she hauled critical supplies to fire fighters, primarily on the Napoleon fire lines. She was released yesterday, and was happy to come home for the first time in nearly three weeks.
