20-25 m.p.h. on the fire, but there was calm 

 at Cavanaugh Bay near Coolin. The ground 

 and crown fires were observed to move as a 

 single front, with spotting up to one-half mile 

 ahead. The main advance took place between 

 2230, August 29, and 0200, August 30, which 

 would give an average rate of spread of 0.80 

 m.p.h. 



At 0700, August 30, the total acreage 

 burned was reported as over 2,000 acres. Very 

 little enlargement of fire area occurred, and 

 there were only a few minor runs in the after- 

 noon. Both Soldier Creek and Lost Creek 

 drainages were now threatened if the wind 

 shifted to the southwest (fig. 4). On August 

 31, heavy smoke obscured the fire most of 

 the day, but a spot fire broke out across a 

 dozer line about 1700 and resulted in an in- 

 tense burnout of lower Lost Creek. The 

 southwest winds were starting to exert some 

 influence judging by ash fallout reported by 

 residents near Naples, Idaho, 18 miles to the 

 northeast. Eight bulldozers were opening 

 roads in the McCormick and Jeru Creek drain- 

 ages. 



From this point, the story is best told in 

 hourly reports of fire progress, which can be 

 followed on the foldout map showing the 

 fire-edge lines. The hourly progress of the fire 

 was determined from the eyewitness accounts 

 obtained through interviews. The approxi- 

 mate time an individual was in an area and 

 where he saw the fire or the fire front were 

 synchronized with the other observations. 

 From this consolidated information, a coher- 

 ent description of the fire's rate of spread was 

 developed. 



THE MAJOR RUN - September 1, 1967 



0700, The fire area had enlarged to ap- 

 proximately 4,000 acres and the eastern fire 

 edge extended from the ridge between East 

 River and Lost Creek north around Sundance 

 Mountain and down into Soldier Creek (see 

 foldout map). At 1010 on September 1, the 

 U. S. D. A. Forest Service was requested to 

 take over fire suppression activities on the 

 Sundance Fire. 



Up to 1300. Fire activity had not in- 

 creased significantly as reported by the air 



patrol observer, who had flown close to the 

 perimeter. A run along the ridge between East 

 River and Lost Creek had occurred since 0700 

 but was not burning intensely. 



1400. The fire had started its advance to 

 the northeast (see foldout map), the initial 

 activity being in Lost Creek, which is at a 

 higher elevation than Soldier Creek. In Soldier 

 Creek the fire moved in a northeasterly direc- 

 tion along contours and downslope from Sun- 

 dance Mountain. At this time the fire was 

 considered to be a ground fire, consuming 

 most of the brush and some crown material. 



Bulldozers were continuing to open roads 

 east of the Selkirk Divide. Action was started 

 to pull the equipment back. A fire camp had 

 been established in Pack River south of Jeru 

 Creek near Lindsey Creek. 



1500. By now the fire had increased in in- 

 tensity, crossed Soldier Creek to the northeast 

 side, continued up the south side, and reached 

 the ridgetop in Lost Creek southwest of Jeru 

 Peak. The fire was spotting across the Divide 

 south of Jeru Peak and coming back up the 

 east exposure slopes. The main front was be- 

 coming more brush and crown fire, with the 

 brush controlling spread. 



1600. Lost Creek had burned out and 

 spreading had been stalled by the Divide. The 

 fires burning upslope on the east side were 

 influenced by indraft winds. In Soldier Creek 

 the entire front had become a crowning fire. 

 Winds were carrying firebrands across the 

 Divide and spot fires were burning upslope. 

 Fire-induced winds were approaching 80 

 m.p.h., resulting in some timber blowdown. 

 The ground fire was lagging the main front 

 and the brush was providing continuity to sus- 

 tain the crowning fire. 



Dozers working at the head of Jeru Creek 

 prepared to move back to Pack River. At 

 about 1600, a two-man rescue team left Pack 

 River fire camp by pickup truck to bring out 

 men working the head of McCormick Creek. 



1700. The Selkirk Divide slowed the fire 

 front; however, firebrands were being cast to 

 the northeast. The ground fire moved up to 



5 



