Western Railroad Discussion > Essex, MT Update - Evacuation Ordered

But BNSF and US 2 are still open...

http://flatheadbeacon.com/2015/08/27/sheriffs-office-issues-evacuation-order-for-essex/

HUGS and LUVS for all those caught in this terrible firestorm.
---- Daniel

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monaddave Wrote:
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> But BNSF and US 2 are still open...
>
> http://flatheadbeacon.com/2015/08/27/sheriffs-offi
> ce-issues-evacuation-order-for-essex/

I hoped they got all the Pictures on each floor out of the inn.

Update: Highway 2 now closed.  I am also assuming that the railroad is shutdown, too.  Amtrak is showing a service disruption for the #7 tonight and Track-a-Train shows the train sitting at Shelby.  Here's the latest on the fire: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4468/.  Thoughts and prayers for all the residents of the area and the firefighters, too.  There are engines from several Flathead Valley cities stationed at Essex for structure protection at this time.  I will update later if I find out more.  --Mary in Whitefish, MT--

Updated at 3pm..highway 2 and the railroad closed.
Roger B

Will they be rerouting BNSF trains over MRL?

Hope some of this coming rain makes it that far...

bbcc Wrote:
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> Will they be rerouting BNSF trains over MRL?
>
> Hope some of this coming rain makes it that far...

Wind will come first then the rain. Looks grim for Essex

Just heard that the hotel has been wrapped in some sort of material to prevent it from catching fire. I've heard of a number of products on the market for the purpose, other methods are to cover the structure with a foam, but that has a limited duration to it.

Hope it works out, something of an understatement.

Fire is reported to be very close to the tracks between the Sheep Creek trestle and the snowshed.  You can see the glow on the MDT webcam.

~ Paul

Paul Birkholz
Sheridan, WY

mtnwestrail Wrote:
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> Fire is reported to be very close to the tracks
> between the Sheep Creek trestle and the
> snowshed.  You can see the glow on the MDT
> webcam.
>
> ~ Paul

Which cam is that?  Not familar with area, but would like to see and learn more.    Thank you.

You can find your way to the webcam from the Interactive Map at http://roadreport.mdt.mt.gov/map/

bbcc Wrote:
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> Will they be rerouting BNSF trains over MRL?
>
> Hope some of this coming rain makes it that far...

Yes. reroutes showing through Sunday.

Fizzboy7 Wrote:
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> Which cam is that?  Not familar with area, but
> would like to see and learn more.    Thank you.

The original post had the link directly to the camera.  Perhaps it wasn't showing up for you?  As noted, it is the one listed as Essex.

Paul Birkholz
Sheridan, WY

Just checked out the Roadcam, very interesting. Found that the camera icon in the left margin must be selected before the camera icons show up on the map. Suppose it saves on BW somehow.

The image is very similar to the (Far) Northern California area last year when fires in the National Forest area to the west burned for quite some time. Everything I bought in town that day smelled like an wood barbecue.