For Immediate Release

Rough Draw Complex Update, August 16, 2003, 9:00am

The Rough Draw Complex consists of five fires: the Rough Draw Fire (940 acres), the Slippery Rock Fire (833 acres), Speculator #1 (15 acres), Speculator #2 (.1 acre), and the Hawley Fire (.1 acre). A fire weather watch for high winds has been issued today and a cold front will push through the area. This may be updated to a Red Flag warning as the day progresses. In general, active fire behavior is expected to occur with the increased wind activity.

Resources assigned to the complex include two Type 1 crews, four Type 2 crews, six helicopters, twenty engines, and six watertenders and four dozers, a total of 419 personnel.

• Rough Draw Fire - Located on the northern boundary of the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, at the head of the Mission Creek Drainage, in the Gallatin National Forest. The Rough Draw Fire had a measureable increase in fire behavior yesterday, the result of high winds. Most of the activity occurred within unburned interior islands and at the north end of the fire. Structural protection measures are in place at the 63 Ranch, and significant progress was made on handline construction south of the ranch. Burnout operations may be used to remove fuels between the ranch and the main fire if conditions are favorable. Air support continues to be critical in this steep and rugged terrain.
  
• Slippery Rock Fire - Located on a northwest ridge above Cottonwood Canyon. The Slippery Rock Fire exhibited isolated torching that resulted in minimal fire spread. Considerable progress was made on dozer and handlines. Structural protection actions are near completion. Firefighters will take advantage of opportunities to use indirect suppression tactics as weather and wind conditions allow. Burnout operations may be used to remove fuels between the structures and the main fire.
  
• Speculator #1 and Speculator #2 - Located on a ridge on the west side of Main Boulder Canyon. Crews completed handline around both fires, and will continue to mop up and strengthen the line today.
  
• Hawley - This fire is also in patrol status and has not shown any activity in several days.

A Community Meeting will be held tonight, August 16th, from 6:00-7:00pm, at the Shields Valley Community Hall in Clyde Park. Members of the Southwest Area Incident Management Team, representatives from Gallatin National Forest and other cooperating agencies will provide an overview of the fire situation. They will also be available to answer questions and address concerns. The public is invited to attend.

For additional information, please call the Rough Draw Complex Information Center at 406-222-9280. Phones will be staffed from 7:00am until 8:00pm.

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