Horse Gulch Evacuees Go Home, Gates of the Mountains Area Re-Opens

MILLER PEAK FIRE (Lolo National Forest)

The Miller Peak Fire has doubled in size over the past 24 hours, and is estimated at 800 acres this morning (June 16) continued working its way to the north and east this afternoon. Hot temperatures, dry conditions and gusty winds resulted in increased fire behavior.

Working in cooperation with community officials and local agencies, fire managers are focusing their efforts on the protection of the homes and structures in the Miller Creek drainage and the communications towers on Miller Peak. Steep slopes, rugged terrain, and the extremely active fire behavior all pose challenging situations for firefighters on the ground.

Resources on scene include 8 engines, 2 helicopters, air tankers, three handcrews, and miscellaneous aircraft. Additional resources, including crews and a Complex Incident Management Team have been ordered. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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

There is good news today from Lewis & Clark County and the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest regarding closures and evacuations ordered because of the Horse Gulch Fire east of Canyon Ferry Reservoir. Residents have been allowed to return to their homes, but remain under an evacuation warning, which means they have to be ready to leave again at a moments' notice if conditions change. The popular Gates of the Mountains and a few hiking trails in the area have been reopened.

The fire grew slightly over the past 24 hours, and as of this morning, is estimated at 13,299 Acres. It is now 10% contained.

Yesterday, Horse Gulch fire operations determined the control line would reasonably hold the fire from Cave Gulch Road on the southern edge west along Jimtown Road and north to Kingsberry Gulch. Due to the hard work of crews, equipment operators, and aircraft pilots, that portion of the fire perimeter is contained, and residents have been allowed to return to their homes.

Crews completed hand line on the northeast portion of the fire through steep and rugged terrain inaccessible to heavy equipment, connecting with existing dozer line.

Additional reinforcement of the fire’s southern border continued as crews transitioned to ‘mop up,’; searching for and extinguishing remaining heat along the fire line.

The northeast flank of the fire area remains active due with plenty of fuels available to burn. Today, fire lines will be improved upon by utilizing firing operations on areas of the northern perimeter as the weather allows. The primary focus will be on the northern side of the fire where the fire is most active. Crews continue to reinforce fire lines at the top of Magpie Gulch.

Today's weather forecast calls for calmer winds, ahead of possible thunderstorms in the area bringing a slight chance of rain with a very small potential for any impact on fire activity. Temperatures are forecasted to be in the 90s-100, continuing to dry fuels on all side of the fire.

Popular sites including the Gates of the Mountains Wilderness, Coulter Campground, Meriwether Day Use Area, Beaver Creek and Indian Flats are reopening.

SOUTH FORK FIRE (Scapegoat Wilderness, Helena-L&C National Forest)

The South Fork Fire has been declared contained. It was reported last Wednesday, in the Scapegoat Wilderness. At that time it was estimated at 10 acres.

Deadman, Anderson, McGhee, Prairie, Hackley and Four-Mile Fires

The Deadman, Anderson, McGhee, Hackley and 4-Mile fires cover a combined area of 22,208 acres in Rosebud and Big Horn counties. These five fires, all caused by lightning strikes on July 12 and 13, are burning 17 miles south of Birney, Montana and north of Tongue River Reservoir in Rosebud and Big Horn Counties. The Deadman Fire and the Anderson Fire burned together on Sunday, reaching an estimated combined 15,294 acres. The combined Deadman/Anderson fires will be referred to as Deadman.

Landowners, ranchers, local fire departments, and state, DNRC and BLM firefighters have made significant progress, building miles of fire lines and conducting burnout operations to gain ground.

The most active of these fires is McGhee, pushing east and north towards Birney on Sunday night. On Monday, crews conducted successful burnouts along the north side and will continue strengthening those lines today. South of Pyramid Butte on the east, the fire made a big push towards Hanging Woman Creek Monday afternoon. A grader improved lines along the eastern side while crews did burnout operations, supported by Very Large Air Tankers (VLATs) with retardant drops. An overnight shift worked to hold and improve the lines. Fire managers are assessing and implementing a strategy to tie together the eastern and southern lines.

The Deadman Fire remains active on the west side, backing towards the Tongue River. While the terrain makes it difficult to access, crews will look for opportunities to use an Unmanned Aerial System (drone) to conduct burnout operations to bring the fire down to and hold it on the river.

On the Four Mile Fire, firefighters are cooling the remaining hot spots and patrolling the edges.

The Prairie Fire is showing little heat and is being monitored.

An evacuation warning remains in place for residents along the Tongue River Road from the Tongue River Bridge at Wall Creek to the southern Rosebud County line. Specific closure information and maps on the Rosebud and/or Big Horn County Facebook Pages.

RABBIT GULCH FIRE & CEDAR CREEK FIRE (Custer Gallatin National Forest)

Thunderstorms over the weekend sparked at least two small fires in the Custer Gallatin National Forest.

Firefighters are working in very steep and rocky terrain to contain the Rabbit Gulch Fire, located about 5 miles southeast of Nye, MT. The fire is at 7800 feet elevation, burning in standing timber, dead and down logs and duff. It is located on national forest in an area adjacent to private property and mining infrastructure.

The Cedar Creek Fire is located about 20 miles north of Gardiner, MT in the Cedar Creek drainage; about 3 miles above the Historic OTO Dude Ranch and within the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. It is less than an acre, burning on a slope, in timber with grassy understory. Four firefighters rappelled into the fire Monday afternoon and three more hiked in from the OTO Ranch. Helicopter operations may be seen near Highway 89.

Categories: North Central Montana News