Sheep Fire Forces Road Closure
Wildfire conditions on the Sheep Fire, currently advancing toward Highway 2, the highway and the BNSF railway are being closed to traffic. As of this writing, there have been NO evacuations of the Essex area. The Sheep Fire has moved to within about 1 mile of the highway and river corridor. Flathead County Sheriff and Montana Department of Transportation are currently in the process of implementing the closure. The closure will be from milepost 178 to 185. This is at the Halfway Motel near Pinnacle on the west side and Bear Creek on the east side.
This action is being taken to provide safe access for firefighters to the fire. The highway and railway will reopen once conditions are safe.