Hilger Valley Firefighters Get an Assist from the Weather

Hilger Valley Fire

Good news from commanders in charge of the Hilger Valley fire north of Helena. On Wednesday afternoon, firefighters completed a containment line around the entire perimeter of the fire, and those lines held as several storms with gusty winds moved through the area. Two helicopters continue to drop water on hot spots within the perimeter. Ground crews are also working on mop-up operations. The Thursday morning report pegged the size of the fire at 285 acres.

Firefighters will continue mop-up operations, working up to two chains, or 132 feet, into the fire perimeter to locate and extinguish remaining heat. Using a gridding and cold-trailing technique, firefighters carefully scan the ground for burned areas and feel for any lingering heat by hand. Where heat is detected, firefighters dig to bare soil with hand tools and mix with water until cold to the touch. Fire resources supply water to ground crews, utilizing hoses lay, a skidgen, and helicopters to support mop-up efforts. Steep terrain and hazardous trees present ongoing challenges.

Banana Lake Fire

The Banana Lake Fire, north of Plains, was contained last weekend at 833 Acres. Mop-up operations continue, as does an investigation into the fire's origin.

Big Creek Fire

The Big Creek Fire is still smoldering and creeping in brush and timber in the Big Creek drainage, west of Stevensville, but has not grown past 75 acres.  Firefighters say the potential of this fire to rekindle at this time is low however, the fire is in challenging, steep terrain and they will continue to patrol this area until full containment can be established. Fire managers determined that the Big Creek Trail can be opened, and the closure order has been lifted.