The latest news on wildfires around western Montana.
Last Update: 6:21 p.m. 09/01/16
Yellowstone National Park implemented Stage two fire restrictions at noon today.
Public Information Officer Bill Swartley:
“Which basically means those coming to the park cannot use open flame while visiting.”
That means no campfires, both in developed campgrounds and the backcountry.
Smoking is also prohibited in the backcountry except within areas at least three feet diameter cleared of all flammable material.
There are some lantern and stove exceptions to the new restrictions.
There are currently four large fires burning inside the park, the largest being the Maple Fire, burning on about 38 thousand acres northeast of West Yellowstone.
There will be a community meeting about that fire tonight at 7:30 at the LDS Church in West Yellowstone.
The other three fires, the Fawn, Central, and Buffalo Fires, are being managed as a part of the Tatanka Complex.
Swartly says today has been another critical fire weather day, and the Red Flag Warning has been extended to Saturday.
All entrances and roads within the park are now open.
The Bierney Creek Fire west of Flathead Lake is now being called 100 percent contained. That determination was made as of 4 PM Wednesday.
Fires in the region are still causing smoldering smoke in the area, including Copper King Fire near Thompson Falls.
Cooler temperatures, higher relative humidity and a cold front is forecasted in the Copper King Fire area.
The change in weather conditions is expected to decrease fire behavior through Monday.
Smoke concentrations will affect visibility on Highway 28 and Highway 200 during the afternoon.
Last Update: 9:50 a.m. 09/01/16
The Roaring Lion Fire located five miles southwest of Hamilton grew by 120 acres in the Ward Bowl area yesterday. Officials say that these increases are expected as fuel dries out and burns. The fire is 8,653 acres and is 70 percent contained.
Today is the last day that officials on the Roaring Lion Fire will be posting daily updates on their progress.
There will be a community meeting in West Yellowstone tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the LDS church to discuss the Maple Fire and other smaller burns in the park. Although all roads and entrances to Yellowstone National Park are open, officials continue to monitor the fires' proximity to highways.
A number of trails and campsites are closed due to over 44,000 acres of wildland fire burning in the park at this time.
Officials on the Copper King Fire outside of Thompson Falls are expecting high humidity and lower temperatures throughout today. Low winds will help transport smoke towards the northeast and decrease fire activity overall.
The 27,788 acre fire is 20 percent contained. It is under the command of Greg Poncin's Type 1 Northern Rockies Incident Management Team.
Crews spent yesterday ensuring that the fire along Highway 200 and the ACM Road did not encroach on private property and structures.
Today they will continue to secure lines from east of Weeksville Creek to the west of Big Hole Lookout. The objective for fire management is to keep structures safe, keep the fire north of Highway 200, west of Weeksville Road, and between the Little Thompson River and the Thompson River.
The Bierney Creek Fire outside of Lakeside has been called 100 percent contained as of 4:00 p.m. yesterday afternoon. The fire reached 60 acres.
The 13 acre Black Mountain Fire outside of Lincoln has also been called 100 percent contained.
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