Forest Service rebuilds after 2015 Clearwater Crossing fire

In 2015 the West Fork Fish Creek Wildfire swept through the area, burning over 12,000 acres. This was in the southern portion of the Ninemile Ranger District where flames crossed over the ridge above the Hole in the Wall Lodge and into the Clearwater Crossing campground. It burned five U.S. Forest Service buildings including the bunkhouse and storage sheds.

Located off the Fish Creek exit 66, and up Fish Creek Road 343 and south to West Fork Fish Creek Road 7750, the campground has stock facilities, and public corrals next to the regular campground. The area is near a trailhead primarily used for horseback riding and hiking into the Great Burn area. The Forest Service also uses the facilities for packing and horsemanship training and trail work.

Last week, Ninemile District Rangers, Erin Phelps and Laura Johnson gave county commissioner, Laurie Johnston a tour of the work that is being done in the area to rebuild the destroyed buildings. A new bunkhouse is under construction with just the porch and interior work left to be done. The facility has a new septic system, running water, and insulation, something the old bunkhouse did not have, “this is much more durable,” said Phelps.

Funding for the project is appropriated Forest Service dollars and the work is being done by staff. With regular ranch and trail work, they will concentrate on the buildings when time allows over the summer, “by September we will be able to hit it hard again,” said Johnson.

In addition to the bunkhouse, they are building a new tool shed and bridge. The old suspended swinging bridge burned in the fire and now they want to build one close to the campground. It will be a regular wooden bridge where stock and hikers can cross. Currently, stock and hikers cross at a shallow part of the creek.

“Most of our trail work is done in this area and so the bunkhouse was our first priority. This gives staff a place to be centrally located,” said Phelps.

Surprisingly, an old tack shed with dry wooden shingles, did not burn in the fire. It stands just a few feet away from the bunkhouse which burned. The wooden corrals also burned and have been replaced with metal corrals. Though the metal bars take away from the rustic allure of the area, they are more durable said Johnson.

The area takes hikers and horsemen into a trail system which transvers the Great Burn Area. The Great Burn is the result of one of the largest wildfires in American history which started in August of 1910. It burned over 3 million acres through Washington, Idaho and Montana. The Great Burn area contains over 252,000 acres of high mountain trails and lakes in between Lolo and Hoodoo Pass.