Rice Ridge Fire Tuesday Morning Update

Rice Ridge Fire Morning Update: The Rice Ridge Fire grew around 200 acres yesterday and is now up to 8,423 acres. It is 10% contained. There are 461 Firefighters including 9 crews, 28 engines, 4 helicopters, 2 dozers, 17 water tenders and overhead personnel. Photo by Nathan Bourne of the fire from The Barn Sunday night.

SUMMARY: The next public meeting will be held on Thursday, Aug. 10 at 6pm at the Seeley Lake Elementary School.

Monday's weather provided for moderate fire activity along the northwest, while the fire experienced considerable growth on the east toward the Bob Marshall Wilderness.

Fire crews on the west side of the fire continued to improve fire line. Hose lays and sprinklers were completed along Highway 83 structures. On the southeast side of the fire, crews started to build control line to the east along Cottonwood Lake Road. Indirect fire line started to be constructed along the southern line in preparation for any fire growth. Helicopters worked the northwest and east ends of the fire. Fire retardant was dropped along the eastern edge to impede spread.

The concerns today are in the Blind Canyon area, where fire activity is expected to increase. Heavy equipment and aircraft will be used to construct line and slow fire spread to the south and the southeast.

Crews are continuing structure protection preparation and assessments in Seeley Lake along Cottonwood Canyon and along Cottonwood Lake Road east of the Double Arrow Ranch.

Fire information booths will be staffed at the Valley Market and Rovero's Hardware Store on Highway 83 from 10am to 6pm.

Residents of the area should sign up for Smart911 at http://www.smart911.com to ensure they receive any emergency messages about potential evacuations.

The American Red Cross has opened a shelter for those who wish to pre-evacuate. It is located at the Potomac Community Center, 29827 Potomac Rd., in Potomac. All evacuees are welcome and there is no cost to stay in the shelter. More info at http://www.redcross.org/get-help/

ADVISORIES: As a reminder, the evacuation warning issued to residents urges them to be prepared, and is still in effect east of Highway 83 south of Rice Ridge Road to Morrell Creek and south of Cottonwood Lakes Road east of Highway 83, including the town of Seeley Lake and Double Arrow Ranch. No actual evacuations have been ordered.

CLOSURES: A closure order is still in effect for the areas surrounding the Rice Ridge Fire. A map and copies of the official closure orders are available on Inciweb. Seeley Lake, the body of water, is still closed to all recreation activities due to aircraft scooping water.

The temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) over the fire has been extended to the east. This restriction applies to drones as well. For more information: http://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_7_5270.html

TODAY'S PLANS: Heavy equipment will be working on fire lines on the north and west end of the fire. The south end of the fire will be continuing to build new control lines to the east along the Cottonwood Lake Road. Air resources will be utilized, as visibility improves, for water and retardant drops over critical areas along the eastern edge of the fire.

WEATHER: Temps will be in the mid 80s today and relative humidity in the teens. There will be a slight chance of thunderstorms in the evening.

FIRE BEHAVIOR: We will see increased fire activity, possibly to a critical level today due to changes in weather, becoming hotter and drier.