![Residents have Returned Home](http://townsquare.media/site/126/files/2015/08/MGN-WILDFIRE-jpg.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Residents have Returned Home
HAMILTON, Mont. (AP) — Residents who had been evacuated because of a western Montana wildfire have been allowed to return home. But some residents near the southern end of the fire have been warned to remain alert to future evacuation notices.
The fire, which has burned nearly 13 square miles in the Bitterroot National Forest southwest of Hamilton, was 30 percent contained on Monday. Some crews were being released.
The Ravalli County sheriff's office earlier said the fire had burned 14 homes and 49 outbuildings, but after some fallen trees were removed from roads, officers found two more homes burned by the fire that started on July 31.
Fire information officer Mike Cole says managers don't expect to have the fire contained until late September, unless the weather ends the fire season sooner.
More From KSEN AM 1150
![UM Receives $1.8M to Tackle Rural Health Care Workforce Shortage](http://townsquare.media/site/126/files/2024/07/attachment-7-24-UM-Bitterroot.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Horse Gulch Fire Now Nearly 13,000 Acres. New Fire Start Near Missoula](http://townsquare.media/site/126/files/2024/07/attachment-July-15-2024.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Horse Gulch Fire Now Nearly 11,000 Acres](http://townsquare.media/site/126/files/2024/07/attachment-July-12-2024.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![DNRC Releases 2024 Summer Drought Report](http://townsquare.media/site/126/files/2024/07/attachment-Drought-Map-July-2024.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![The Kids Get To Fish In Augusta](http://townsquare.media/site/126/files/2011/10/kids-outside-smaller.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![It’s Going Swimmingly In Valier](http://townsquare.media/site/758/files/2016/06/Swimming.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Plant Fire Contained at 93 Acres, Horse Gulch Fire Grows to 2000 Acres](http://townsquare.media/site/126/files/2024/07/attachment-July11-2024.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Logan Health-Chester’s Open House Is On TODAY](http://townsquare.media/site/126/files/2012/07/too-old-to-work.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Tons of FUN In Dutton](http://townsquare.media/site/126/files/2016/07/Dutton-Fun-Days.jpg?w=980&q=75)