HELENA - DNRC, the Forest Service and volunteer firefighters from across the Helena Valley responded to a fire that began Thursday near Helena, and has been dubbed the Matt Staff Fire. a large air tanker and four helicopters are also on scene. The cause of the fire has not been determined, but it was pushed eastward by gusty winds. Homes along the west shore of Canyon Ferry Lake were evactuated. The Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office said the fire became less active overnight, but a recorded report this morning said it is still an active situation, and evacuations are still in place.
At this point, no structures have been lost.
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ELMO, Mont. (InciWeb) — The Elmo Fire experienced limited growth yesterday of 566 acres for a total of 21,182 acres. Firefighters kept the fire south of Lake Mary Ronan Scooper planes dropped approximately 600,000 gallons of water to slow the fire's approach to the lake from the ridge. This allowed ground crews work on mitigating and preparing around structures.
Today, crews and equipment will be supported by aircraft as they reinforce and secure lines around the most active sections of the fire south of Lake Mary Ronan. Firefighters on the eastern and western sides of the fire remain critical to limiting fire growth, securing lines as active fire along the edge still exists. Continuous firelines are holding near Cromwell Creek to the west and structure protection resources remain in place on the east side. The southern edge along Highway 28 remains contained and in patrol status.
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EUREKA (InciWeb)-- The Weasel Fire, 14 miles NE of Eureka in Lincoln County, was estimated at 1100 acres Friday morning, and expected to grow in all directions due to heavy timber, high temps and gusty winds, and dry fuels, including timber and groundcover. Helicopter water drops are being used to fight the fire, which is in steep terrain, hard to access from the ground. One firefighter was slightly injured by a falling tree limb.
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HAMILTON (InciWeb)--This morning's report on the Hog Trough Fire shows no growth in the fire's perimeter over the past 24 hours. It's still estimated at 771 acres, 18 miles SE of Hamilton, in the Sapphire Wilderness Study Area (WSA) on both the Bitterroot and Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forests. Heavy equipment and crews are constructing fuel breaks, with the goal of holding the fire south of Hwy 38 and between two Forest Service roads.
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ST IGNATIUS (InciWeb)-- There will be a community meeting this (Friday) evening in St Ignatius, to update the public on the Redhorn Fire, which covers 180 acres in a densly forested area 7 miles northeast of St Ignatius, and within the Mission Mountain Wilderness Grizzley Bear Management Zone. Helicopter water drops are being used along the lower west perimeter of the fire, focused on slowing its downhill movement of the fire toward the town.

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