Northern Rockies Team Takes Command of Elder 1 Fire as Blaze Tops 500 Acres

Overview

• Lightning ignited the Elder 1 Fire on July 24 in the Rock Creek/Ninemile area near Frenchtown and the fire has been mapped at an estimated 510 acres under the new command.
• Incident command shifted to Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 1 on July 28 to provide wider organizational capacity and free local crews for other initial attacks.
• Crews are focused on holding the ridge from Rock Creek to Albert Point while building containment lines with four crews, six engines, three dozers, helicopters, fixed-wing tankers and water tenders on site.
• Hot, dry and windy weather plus heavy timber have driven wind‑driven runs, tree torching and spotting that caused rapid growth and have limited some aviation operations under a Temporary Flight Restriction.
• There are no reported evacuations or threatened structures, managers are coordinating closely with the Bonneville Power Administration over powerlines, and officials are considering a temporary area closure and are asking the public to keep Deep Creek and Rock Creek roads clear.