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Butte Fire Entrapment 1985

  • Incident Information:

    Attachment Size
    Behavior of the Life Threatening Butte Fire - Fire Management Today Article.pdf (179.24 KB) 179.24 KB
    Forest Fire Shelters Save Lives - Fire Management Notes Article.pdf (134.1 KB) 134.1 KB
    Butte Fire Staff Ride Preliminary Study.pdf (4.17 MB) 4.17 MB
    Butte Fire Entrapment Summary of Findings.pdf
    Long Tom Complex Fire Review.pdf

  • Location:

    Idaho

  • Date:

    08/29/1985

  • Incident Type:

    Entrapment

  • Description:

    The Butte Fire was one of four fires in the Long Tom Complex ignited by lightning on July 7, 1985, on the Salmon National Forest, Idaho. The Butte Fire experienced a significant growth day on July 20, and from then made daily afternoon crown fire runs, until precipitation fell over the fire in August. By the end of August, a return to dry weather caused an increase in fire behavior, returning to the pattern of daily afternoon runs. On August 29, the fire made a major run, significantly larger than previous days', of 3000 acres. During this sustained crown fire run, 118 firefighters disengaged from the fireline and made their way to safety zones scattered along the ridge. 73 firefighters deployed fire shelters. 

    The Butte Fire Shelter Deployment video, shot shortly after the events of August 1985, is available here. 

    The Butte Fire Staff Ride video, recording the 2016 staff ride, is available here. 

     

    Fire Shelter Deployment, Entrapment, Hand Crews, Extended Attack, LCES, Fire Behavior

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