Horse Gulch Fire Grows, but Firefighters Are Gaining Control

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

Firefighters are slowly gaining control of the Horse Gulch Fire east of Canyon Ferry Reservoir. While the fire has grown to 14,250 acres, incident commanders say they have 23% containment, as fire lines on three sides  are holding.

On Tuesday, crews successfully established dozer lines around a spot fire outside of the northern perimeter of the fire. Concerns remain on the east flank, just south of the Cave Gulch Fire burn in 2000, where the fuel loads are more susceptible to rapid fire spread. To address this, aerial resources dropped retardant along the fire perimeter to prevent fire spread. Crews also responded to and extinguished a new ¼ acre spot fire near Hellgate Gulch Road. To the west, crews held and improved fire line along Jimtown Road northwards to the 4136 Road.

Overnight, crews on the northern flank continued tactical firing operations from established dozer lines to the fire’s edge, reducing combustible materials to strengthen fire lines.

Today, the primary mission is to hold control lines where the firing operations occurred yesterday and last night. On the south flank of the fire, crews will continue improving, mopping up, and cold trailing control lines to extinguish residual heat sources. With active fire behavior, Magpie Gulch remains a primary area of focus, with suppression efforts aimed at reinforcing control lines to halt fire spread.

MILLER PEAK FIRE (Lolo National Forest)

The Miller Peak Fire continues to grow, and is now estimated at 1925 acres. It is burning in the Lolo National Forest, about 7 miles southeast of Missoula. 169 firefighters are on scene, with 6 engines and 3 helicopters.

Aviation and crews continued to work constructing and strengthening line on the southern edge of the fire and progressing to Holloman Saddle and to the north toward Miller Peak, working to secure the edge. These actions are designed to protect the homes and structures in Miller Creek and the communications towers on Miller Peak. Crews also continued to look for contingency options in the Moccasin Ridge area.

DEADMAN FIRE (Big Horn & Rosebud Counties)

There are four lightning-caused fire burning on BLM and DNRC land south of Birney, Montana and north of Tongue River Reservoir in Rosebud and Big Horn Counties . Together, they have consumed 36,089 acres  (Deadman: 19,088   McGhee: 8,379   Prairie: 6,540   Four Mile: 2,082) 

Firefighters conducted burnout operations on the McGhee and Deadman fires Tuesday.  On the McGhee Fire, helicopters and air tankers assisted with water and retardant drops when heavy vegetation, wind, and terrain aligned to increase fire behavior in the afternoon and evening. The fire pushed south of Wall Creek Road. Two Hotshot crews and other resources worked overnight to conduct burnouts north of Lacey Gulch Road and west of Hanging Woman Creek to try to tie it into the northeastern edge of the Deadman Fire. On the west side of the Deadman Fire, a smokejumper module conducted burnout operations to bring the fire down into the Tongue River corridor where it can be secured. An Unmanned Aerial System (drone) was used overnight to continue with small burnout operations.

Crews will hold and secure the eastern McGhee fire lines today and continue with burnouts on the south and east as weather conditions allow. Fire managers will also determine how to tie lines together from the west side down into the south portion, avoiding the Battle Butte Area of Critical Environmental Concern as fire will be less detrimental to this area than suppression efforts. On Deadman, crews will continue to conduct small burnouts on the west side to bring the fire down to 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.