North Fork firefighters mopping up, demobilizing

Despite multiple lightning strikes up the North Fork on Sunday, Aug. 3, no new fires were reported, according to Forest Service fire officials.

As of Aug. 4, the Hay Creek Complex included 12 fires covering 23 acres, of which seven were contained and controlled and about 50 percent of the complex was contained. There were no road closures, and no homes were threatened.

Firefighting efforts were based at Moran Creek Meadow along the North Fork Road. Resources assigned to the fire included four 20-man crews, three helicopters, one Type 6 engine crew and a local Type 3 management team for a total of about 123 people.

The fires started on the Whitefish Range during a lightning storm on July 29 and burned in heavy timber in steep, rough terrain. The fire behavior was described as small smokes in duff on the forest floor. These fires include:

• The 7-acre Akinkoka Fire south of Whale Creek.

• The 3-4 acre Hay Creek No. 1 Fire southwest of Polebridge.

• The quarter-acre Hay Creek No. 2 Fire southwest of Polebridge.

• The Thoma Creek Fire near the Canada Border in the headwaters of Thoma Creek close to Trail 114A.

Fire managers planned to continue with mop-up and patrolling of the two larger fires, Akinkoka and Hay Creek and to demobilize the unneeded firefighters and helicopters.