Passenger Trains > Essex, Sheep Fire: no bad news

Residents of Essex, MT and guests of the Izaak Walton Inn remain in a pre-evacuation condition;
they must be prepared to evacuate if conditions require.

The Sheep Fire remains about a mile from Essex, and 1/8 mile from the BNSF Railway.

However, there has been little new fire activity, as daytime temperatures have dropped into the 60s
and humidity has increased.  Fire crews have been able to directly suppress fire at critical hotspots,
and to widen fire breaks. 

Weather is expected to remain favorable for firefighters through the week.  In what may be
regarded as a sign of optimism, "Crews and heavy equipment have started to demobilize off the
(Sheep Fire) as of today."  -Inciweb, 7pm MT

The Sheep Fire was officially declared to have been started by lightning.

Railroad-related:  Trains on BNSF are operating normally.  Amtrak 7(31) stopped at Essex on time.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/01/15 22:29 by GenePoon.

Won't surprise me if they really knock down that fire this time around!

Where does the term "Sheep" come from ?

joemvcnj Wrote:
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> Where does the term "Sheep" come from ?

That would be from the bighorn sheep living up in the mountains. There's a well-known salt lick along Sheep Creek, but it seems to be more popular with the mountain goats than the bighorn sheep. This would be the home of the Graet Northern's Rocky the mountain goat mascot/logo as goats could be seen from passing trains along Sheep Creek.

I suspect Sheep Creek is the proximate source for the fire's name.