High pressure may finally be breaking down

Incoming storm signals change, but little rain chance- NWS graphic(MISSOULA)- A massive high pressure system that has put the Northwest into an extended drought may be finally breaking down.

At least the forecast is finally showing a chance for some showers in the forecast for the first time in weeks.

The high pressure system has been locked over the Western United States since early August. The National Weather Service says at times the pressure has reached as far north as the Yukon, blocking any Pacific weather systems from bringing moisture to the Northwest.

Missoula has only seen a trace of measurable rain in September and is within days of breaking the all-time record for a lack of precipitation this time of the year.

However, a low pressure system moving across Oregon and into Idaho might indicate a change is about to happen. There’s not much moisture with the system, and NWS forecasters say it will probably travel south of the region, but it could generate a few isolated showers in Eastern Idaho and Southwest Montana.

On Tuesday, a fast-moving disturbance is expected to move across the Northern Rockies that could generate some isolated afternoon showers. That’s expected to bring more moist, cool conditions that should suppress fire activity in the region and reduce some of the smoke build up.

Condon Mountain Fire active, grows to 3,500 acres

Trees torching on the Condon Mt Fire Saturday- USFS photo(CONDON)- Hot, dry weather is helping the long-burning Condon Mountain Fire in the Swan Range to flare up, growing to 3,500 acres.

That has fire managers drawing up evacuation maps and putting residents closest to the fire on alert.

The fire was sparked by lightning during a series of storms that moved through the region at the end of July, and has been burning steadily ever since. The fire had calmed somewhat during cooler weather earlier this month. But temperatures climbing back into the 80s and very low humidity levels have created conditions making the blaze more active in the last few days.

The fire has been moving downhill in the Cooney Creek drainage on the southern edge, and toward the Swan River Valley on the western edge. Crews were busy Saturday building more fireline with helicopters making aerial water drops. Firefighters are using roads in the area for firebreak.

Trails close to the fire and public access to the fire zone have been closed. Some private structures are now within less than 2-miles of the edge of the fire, which is just 40% contained. 

Work starting to wind down on Mustang Complex Fire

Sawyer-Hotshot crew on the Mustang Fire- USFS photo by Kari Greer(NORTH FORK, ID)- With “minimal” fire activity again yesterday, some of the crews and equipment are starting to de-mobilize on the Mustang Complex Fire along the Montana-Idaho border.

That doesn’t mean a complete end to firefighting operations. But crews are starting to recover the large amount of equipment deployed to fight the 332,000-acre fire, and even starting some of the initial re-habilitation work in some of the burned over areas.

The lightning-caused fire has burned a huge swath of country along the North Fork of the Salmon River drainage, spilling over the divide into the southernmost reaches of the West Fork of the Bitterroot.

Fire managers say most of the fire activity has been on the Montana side and into the adjoining wilderness areas. That’s where crews have built fire line to “tie-in” the blaze with the already burned areas left by last year’s Saddle Complex Fire and the Chrandal Creek Fire earlier this summer.

Residents along the Highway 93 corridor and in some of the adjoining valleys remain on a Stage 2 evacuation alert, meaning they should be prepared to leave again on a moment’s notice, in case the fire should flare up again.

Highway 93 remains open, but drivers are advised to have their headlights on for safety because of the dense fire smoke that still blankets the area. 

Boo Boo doing better

Snowdon Wildlife Sanctuary photo(McCall, ID)- Boo Boo, the bear cub rescued by firefighters on the Mustang Complex Fire, is doing well at a western Idaho wildlife center, back to climbing trees for the first time since he was severely burned.

Boo Boo was caught as the fire spread rapidly along the Montana-Idaho border, suffering severe burns on all four paws. Firefighters took him out of the woods and he was taken to Boise for treatment. At one veterinarians weren’t sure if he would live.

But this week Boo Boo is back in his natural environment, having been moved to the Snowdon Wildlife Sanctuary near McCall.

Sanctuary staff say he arrived late last week, and since that time has been released into a wooded enclosure where he has plenty of peace and quiet to continue his rehabilitation. He’s being kept with other orphaned cubs the same size until he’s ready to release back into the wild.

Interns keep tabs on the bears 24/7, letting them get their strength back naturally over a period of several weeks. 

Some evacuees allowed home near Mustang Complex Fire

Thick smoke continues to be a problem from the Mustang Fire- USFS photo(NORTH FORK, ID)- Some residents evacuated by the massive Mustang Complex Fire burning along the Idaho-Montana border are being allowed to go home.

Lemhi County authorities modified the Stage 3 Evacuation order this morning, clearing the way for some of the people evacuated last week along the Highway 93 corridor to return to their properties. People living between North Fork and Quartz Creek, just north of Gibbonsville were moved last week when high winds drove the lightning-caused fire east.

Now, those homes are under a Stage 2 Evacuation order, which means they’ll remain on stand-by for possible evacuation if fire activity should flare up again. A community meeting is set for Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. at the North Fork Community Church.

The fire has now burned over 323,000-acres and is 18% contained.

Fire managers are optimistic they’ve been able to stop the spread of the fire east of Highway 93. Saturday night fire was spotted east of the highway for the first time, but crews were able to contain that blaze at 157-acres.

On the Montana side of the divide in the upper reaches of the West Fork of the Bitterroot, crews are improving the lines to tie-in the fire in Johnson Creek off to the already-burned area of this summer’s Chrandal Creek Fire. Crews are working on additional fire line on Mine Creek.