New Fires Near Missoula, Evacuations Ordered.

Three new fires were reported in the Missoula area over the weekend. Here is an update on newly-reported fires, and major ongoing fires across the state:

BUTLER CREEK FIRE

Our sister station, KGVO in Missoula reports that evacuations have been ordered in the Butler Creek neighborhood, west of Missoula, as DNRC fire crews respond to a new fire reported about 6:00am this morning. Officials say the fire has already burned 200 acres north of I-90 and east of Hwy 93.. Missoula County Sheriff's Office immediately issued an Evacuation Order for the Indreland and Buffalo Speedway areas and the West Butler Lavelle Creek areas telling people to leave immediately. Other nearby residents are under an evacuation warning, which means they should be preparing to leave on a moment's notice. The Montana Red Cross is opening a shelter for evacuees at Christ the King Catholic Church, 1400 Gerald Avenue in Missoula.

DRY CREEK FIRE (Lolo National Forest)

The Dry Creek fire was reported on the evening of July 20. The 3-acre fire is located 8 miles south of St. Regis, MT. The fire is creeping and smoldering in timber with a heavy dead and down fuels. Twenty firefighters from the Lolo National Forest are working to construct handline around the perimeter of the fire today. Helicopters may be used to assist ground resource with water bucket drops to help cool hot spots. The cause of the fire is lightning.

BIBLE LANE FIRE (Lolo National Forest)

The Bible Lane fire located one mile east of Alberton, MT off Bible Lane is 23 acres. Firefighters completed handline around the perimeter of the fire Sunday, and will continue to secure the perimeter today with mop up operations. Resources on scene today include one engine, one water tender, and a 20-person hand crew. Light smoke may be visible today from Interstate 90 and the surrounding area. An evacuation warning for nearby residents has been cancelled.

HORSE GULCH FIRE (Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest)

Firefighters had a productive weekend working on the Horse Gulch Fire near Canyon Ferry Reservoir. As of this morning, the fire is 92% contained, at 15,167 acres.

Yesterday, crews finished suppression repair on private land and BLM land. To the west, along Jimtown Road, crews continued to patrol the area searching for isolated areas of heat to ensure new flare-ups do not threaten control lines. Firefighters located and mopped up areas of remaining heat in Hellgate Gulch to minimize potential for flare-ups there. Crews also continued with suppression repair work along the Canyon Ferry Corridor and Hellgate Gulch. They are assessing fire lines created by crews and equipment and mitigating erosion potential.

Today, crews will move road graders in to improve roads throughout the fire area. Firefighters will continue to seek out and extinguish residual heat along the north and west flanks of the fire. Crews will also continue cold trailing and mopping up heat sources in these areas. Suppression repair will also continue along Magpie Gulch Road.

MILLER PEAK FIRE (Lolo National Forest)

The Miller Creek Fire, southeast of Missoula in the Lolo National Forest, added 78 acres over the past 24 hours, and is now estimated at 2481 Acres. It is now 10% contained.

In the northwest section of the fire, crews have completed handline construction and are continuing to secure the perimeter. Crews on the southwest side of the fire are working on securing the fire perimeter with mop-up operations. Firefighters on the southeastern side of the fire are continuing to improve the line adjacent to Moccasin Creek and improving Moccasin Ridge Road with heavy equipment taskforces. Crews in the northeast section of the fire are constructing fireline with hand crews and dozers in Greenough Creek Drainage and are improving Allen Creek Road with dozers and masticators.

BLACKTAIL CANYON FIRE (Beaverhead-Deer Lodge National Forest)

Firefighters have been working on this fire since Friday (July 19), and have been able to hold it to 68 acres since their arrival on scene. The fire is southeast of Butte, MT between Interstate 90 and Highway 2, and visible from both roads.

Three “hotshot” crews began construction of direct fireline (immediately adjacent to the fire’s edge) by removing fuels and mitigating “snag” hazards, starting at the southwest corner of the fire in the Beaver Pond Meadows area and progressing northerly along both flanks or sides of the fire. Additional crews assisted with fireline construction by mid-day, bringing the total number of crews to five. These crews will “spike out” or camp near the fire to decrease travel time back and forth, maximizing efficiency and increasing firefighter safety. Helicopters will supply the firefighters with food and water.

The interior of the fire continues to burn in large amounts of dead and down lodgepole pine trees, posing additional hazards and affecting on-the-ground progress.

The Butte-Silver Bow Law Enforcement Department has issued an evacuation warning for Blacktail Canyon Road southeast of Homestake Road, Homestake Road east of Blacktail Canyon Road and Passmore Canyon.

DEADMAN FIRE, McGHEE FIRE, PRAIRIE FIRE, 4-MILE FIRE (Rosebud & Big Horn counties)

Containment on both the Deadman and the McGhee Fire increased over the weekend. The Deadman Fire is now 74% contained, and the McGhee Fire is 52% contained. The Prairie and 4-mile fires have been fully contained since Saturday (July 20). In total, these fires have burned nearly 48,000 acres (Deadman: 19,982 acres McGhee: 19,223 acres Prairie: 6,540 acres Four Mile: 2,082 acres).

Over the weekend, firefighters continued to secure structures along Hanging Woman Road and mopped up (cooled hot spots) along the south edge of the McGhee Fire north of the Lacey Gulch Road. A crew patrolled and mopped up hot spots along the Tongue River Road south of Birney. Dozer lines were mapped for potential rehabilitation needs on all four fires. Repair of known dozer lines began on the southwest corner of the Deadman Fire.

Firefighters will continue patrolling and mopping up uncontrolled edges of the McGhee and Deadman Fires. Repair and rehabilitation, including some work by hand, of indirect and direct lines will continue today on the north end of the McGhee Fire, as well as on various dozer lines on all four fires. A temporary flight restriction (TFR) is in place over the fire area, and initial attack resources assigned to these fires will help with any new starts within the TFR.

Categories: North Central Montana News