Breaking News
October 1, 2008
Yellowstone And Grand Teton To Consider Options On New Temporary Winter Use Plan
Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks are considering all legal options on a temporary plan for oversnow vehicle travel this winter.....more
September 23, 2008
PPL Public Meeting on Hebgen Lake Incident - Click here
September 16, 2009
Hebgen Dam Incident -For more information - Click here
September 9, 2008
Teepee Fire Area Closure
Contanct: (406) 823-6961
Contact: Marianne Baumberger (406) 522-2549
Beginning September 9th, 2008, ALL HUMAN ENTRY IS PROHIBITED in the area located around Tepee Creek Wildfire south of the Bacon Rind drainage and west of Yellowstone National Park, Gallatin County, approximately 17 miles north of the Town of West Yellowstone, MT. This closure also affects trail #208. For more information use contact information listed above.
September 8, 2008
For Immediate Release
Contact: Marianne Baumberger (406) 522-2549
TEEPEE FIRE NORTH OF WEST YELLOWSTONE, MT
The Teepee Fire in the Gallatin National Forest is burning roughly 17 miles north of West YEllowstone, MT and 1-1/2 miles from the boundary of Yellowstone National Park in the area of the Monument Unit of the Lee Metcalf Wilderness. At around 6 pm Monday evening the fire was approximately 20 acres with some torching and spotting. Thirty-two firefighters, including smokejumpers, helitack rappellers and engine personnel from the Gallatin National Forest are working on the ground in the remote area. There are also 2 helicopters working the fire with water drops and one air tanker on order from Eastern Idaho. The fire is burning in grass and timber. Cool night time temperatures should lay the fire down tonight and help the crews digging fire line. In the morning air resources will be hitting it hard as warm temperatures are expected Tuesday. At this time the cause of the fire is under investigation.
As fall weather continues, bringing sunny days between cool temperatures people should be careful when they go into the woods. Campfires this time of year can easily escape on a warm windy day. Be sure to drown your campfires and have a bucket, shovel, and fire extinguisher when cutting fire wood.
September 8, 2008 - 6:00 pm
TEEPE FIRE
On the west side of highway 191 south of the Lee Metcalf Wilderness area between West Yellowstone, Montana and Big Sky, Montana.
Currently has 9 firefighters plus one helecopter working on the fire and is aproximately 10 acres. This fire will be assessed again on the morning of September 9, 2008.
HEBGEN DAM REPAIR - No update available at this time.
September 5-7, 2008 Information as of 8am
David Hoffman will be the incident contact for a few days beginning 9/5/08.
406-431-6783 is the contact number.
HEBGEN DAM REPAIR PLAN
Friday 9/5
Dirt work is in progress to prepare for the bulkhead to be installed later this weekend.
The steel beam bulkhead built in Anaconda, Montana should be arriving sometime Friday late afternoon or evening. Some traffic control (slower speed) in the area on Highway 287 will be in effect
Saturday 9/6 - Sunday 9/7
Drilling of the casing for placement of the bulkhead will be in progress. Some traffic control (slower speed) possible.
It is planned for the bulkhead to be installed Sunday. Traffic control will be in effect Friday evening thru Sunday and possibly into Monday morning.
This should consist of slower speeds and perhaps short wait times.
September 2, 2008 - 10:00 am
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MADISON COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF DISASTER AND EMERGENCY SERVICES
MADISON COUNTY COURTHOUSE
VIRGINIA CITY MONTANA 59755
Contact:
Jode Boyles Briggs or
Kaye Suzuki
406-682-4253
HEBGEN INCIDENT WINDS DOWN
Ennis Mont., Monday, September 01, 2008 - Madison Valley residents spent an anxious night concerned about rising water after two head gates failed at the Hebgen Lake Dam on Sunday, August 31. residents breathed a sigh of relief as daylight brought reassurance that the river, although higher than average for a Labor Day Weekend, was still well within its banks. PP&L engineer assessments further calmed nervous citizens when inspections revealed the integrity of the dam structure is sound. Outflow from the Hebgen Lake Dam has remained stable at 3400 CF/S, a flow of 800 CF/S is considered normal this time of year. Increased or decreases in outflow may occur as repairs to the dam progress. Questions or concerns regarding repairs to the dam should be directed to Mark Lambrecht, PP&L Public information Officer, at 406-461-6936.
Re creationists along the river had their holiday weekend curtailed as campgrounds and fishing accesses along the Madison River were closed as a safety precaution. Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks will closely monitor river rise conditions to determine when sites will reopen. Campgrounds located above Ennis Lake to three miles below Quake Lake are temporarily closed. Day use area are open to normal use. Campgrounds are expected to open as soon as conditions allow. The Cabin Creek and Beaver Creek campgrounds on the Gallatin National Forest are closed as well. All recreational facilities at Hebgen Lake above the dam are open to business as usual.
For more information regarding closures and pending openings of Madison Valley sites call the Madison Ranger District, 406-587-6703
September 1, 2008 - 1:00 pm Mountain Standard Time
MADISON COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF DISASTER AND EMERGENCY SERVICES
MADISON COUNTY COURTHOUSE
VIRGINIA CITY MONTANA 59755
Contact:
Jode Boyles Briggs or
Kaye Suzuki
406-682-4253
HEBGEN INCIDENT BRIEFING
Ennis Mont., Monday, September 01, 2008 – An incident briefing of the Hebgen Incident will be held today at 1:00 p.m. at the incident command center. The command center has been established at the Madison Valley Rural Fire Department 5037 US Highway 287 North in Ennis. The media is welcome to attend. A news release will be issued following the briefing. The current situation is as follows:
Two lower gates at the Hebgen Lake PP&L dam mechanically malfunctioned yesterday. The integrity of the dam is sound per PP&L engineers. The public may contact Mark Lambrecht, PP&L Public Information Officer, with questions and status regarding the Hebgen Lake Dam.
There are no plans for evacuation at this time.
Increased water from the dam is at 3400 CSF compared to the normal of 800 CSF. The increased water CSF is comparable to spring run off conditions.
The Madison River is open to water recreation via private access points only. All Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks and Bureau of Land Management areas are closed from the Ennis Dam upstream.
Campgrounds remain closed from Quake Lake to Ennis Lake. National Forest Service system lands are closed from Hebgen Dam to Quake Lake. Cabin Creek and Beaver Creek campgrounds are currently closed.
Recreational facilities at Hebgen Lake are open today.
The high water is expected to last for several days until repairs to the dam are completed.
PP&L lowered the water level at Ennis Lake in anticipation of the river rise.
A large helicopter with a seven person crew capable of carrying 12 passengers has been dispatched from the Forest Service for aerial observation.
A multi-agency incident team has been activated to manage the Hebgen Incident.
