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Wildfire, fire management and air quality news for western Montana and the Northern Rockies.

Montana Wildfire Update For July 09, 2021

Montana Wildfire News

Updated 5:30 p.m.

Brackett Fire

The Northern Rockies Coordination Center’s report Friday morning describes extreme fire behavior and wind-driven runs on the Brackett Fire, 24 miles north of Terry in Prairie County. Mark Jacobsen with the Bureau of Land Management’s Miles City office says the 1,200-acre predominately grassland fire is contained although there are a few cottonwood draws that are still smoldering.

Peterson, Western Road and Musselshell Trail Road Fires

A federal fire management team will take over command Saturday morning of three aggressive wildfires burning through timber, sagebrush, grass and rangeland in Musselshell and neighboring Yellowstone counties.

A Type 2 team will manage the 1,600-acre Peterson Fire south of Melstone and the 800-acre Western Road Fire south of Roundup in Musselshell County. The team will also take over management of the 10,000-acre Musselshell Trail Road Fire north of Custer in Yellowstone County. 

Musselshell County Disaster and Emergency Services says currently the fires are not threatening any residences, but they are all showing extreme fire behavior. The causes of the three fires are under investigation, but DES says preliminary indications point to lightning strikes.

Brewster Fire

The Brewster Fire is burning in steep, rugged terrain in the Brewster Creek Drainage to the east of Rock Creek on the Missoula Ranger District in Granite County. The fire is currently at 75 acres, with limited access by foot. Officials are planning road closures of Brewster Creek Road #4308, along with closures of the John Long Trail #21 and a portion of Tyler Creek Trail #1192. Rock Creek Road is not closed; however, the public is asked not to stop or stall on the road to take pictures of aviation activity as it creates traffic problems that impact the firefighting operation.

A Single Engine Air Tanker drops retardant on the Sunset Fire July 7, 2021. The fire is part of the West Lolo Complex burning on the Superior and Plains-Thompson Falls Ranger Districts.
Credit InciWeb
A Single Engine Air Tanker drops retardant on the Sunset Fire July 7, 2021. The fire is part of the West Lolo Complex burning on the Superior and Plains-Thompson Falls Ranger Districts.

Sheep Creek and Quinns Fires

Several lightning-caused fires burning 220 acres on the Superior and Plains-Thompson Falls Ranger Districts have been rolled up into one complex called the West Lolo Complex, which includes the Sheep Creek and Quinns fires. Firefighters are making good progress on the two fires, constructing containment lines around the fire perimeters. This suppression activity from Thursday will continue today. Quinn’s Hot Springs is not threatened, no other structures or infrastructure are threatened and there are no closures in place at this time.

A closure order is anticipated between and including the Graves Creek Road, Marmot Peak trail, and Priscilla Peak/Sundance Ridge trail.

Siegel Fire

A plan is being developed for access to and suppression of the more remote Siegel Fire. A closure order is anticipated between and including the Graves Creek Road, Marmot Peak trail, and Priscilla Peak/Sundance Ridge trail. The Thompson River Roads will remain open. Please monitor the West Lolo Complex InciWeb and Facebook pages and the Lolo National Forest webpage.

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