Fire Suppression forces closure of Seeley Lake waters

The Rice Ridge fire is about three miles from Seeley Lake, Montana.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is closing all of Seeley Lake waters, effective immediately, for public safety while crews use the lake water to fight the Rice Ridge Fire.
 
The closure applies to all recreation, such as boating, swimming, wading and fishing, so that aircraft crews can safely operate as they dip water from the lake.
 
Officials say the closure will be in place until fire crews no longer need to use the lake for suppression efforts. For up-to-date information on this closure and restrictions related to drought and fire, visit fwp.mt.gov/news/restrictions/ or call the FWP office in Missoula at 406-542-5500.

This morning a visitor in the Seeley Lakes area was flying a drone within the Temporary Flight Restriction zone for the Rice Ridge Fire. This caused the firefighting aircraft to have to land for safety reasons, which created a delay in the air firefighting operations. Such a delay can have a serious impact on the success of firefighting operations. The temporary flight restriction over the Rice Ridge Fire extends for a five-mile radius from the center point of the fire, which includes Seeley Lake.
It is a Federal offense to fly within a Temporary Flight Restriction zone. Other aircraft, including remote control aircraft, in the vicinity of firefighting aircraft pose a serious hazard. Firefighting aircraft cannot fly if drones or remote control aircraft are in the air. Do not fly such aircraft within the temporary flight restriction area.

TRAIL CLOSURES

The below listed National Forest System Trails located on the Spotted Bear Ranger District are closed to all public travel because of wildfire activity associated with the Rice Ridge Fire 

Trail #221, in its entirety, from the junction with Ross Creek Trail #284 (NW ¼ of Section 31, R 13W, T 18N) to the junction with the Blackfoot Divide Trail #278 (SW ¼ of Section 7, R 13W, T 17N).

Trail #284, in its entirety from the junction with Youngs Creek Trail (SE ¼ of Section 26, R14W, T18N) to the junction with Blackfoot Divide Trail #278 (SW ¼ of Section 12, R13W, T 17N)

Trail #283, in its entirety from Pyramid Pass (NW ¼ of Section 3, R14W, T17N) to the junction with Jenny Creek Trail #141 (NW ¼ of Section 20, R13W, T18N)

Trail #137, in its entirety from the junction with Jenny Creek Trail #141 (NW ¼ of Section 17, R13W, T18N) to its terminus (SW ¼ of Section 16, R14W, T18N)

Trail #468, in its entirety from the junction with Youngs Creek Trail #293 (SW ¼ of Section 19, R13W, T18N) to its terminus (SW ¼ of Section 24, R13W, T18N)

Trail #278, from Pyramid Pass (NW ¼ of Section 3, R14W, T17N) to the junction with the Spruce Creek Trail #221 (SW ¼ of Section 7, R 13W, T 17N)

Trail #130, from the junction with Otis Creek Trail #123 (NW ¼ of Section 35, R14W, T19N) to its terminus (Section 32, R14W, T19N)

Trail #123, from the junction with Babcock Creek Trail #130 (NW ¼ of Section 35, R14W, T19N) to its terminus (SW ¼ of Section 9, R14W, T18N)