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

Montana Wildfire Update For July 31, 2021

Montana Wildfire News
Updated: August 1, 2021 at 5:21 AM MDT
Get the latest news in Sunday's wildfire update. This post will no longer be updated.

A mandatory evacuation order is in effect in the Finley Point area east of Polson due to the Boulder 2700 Fire. The fire has jumped Highway 35, which was closed to southbound traffic at Blue Bay around 2 a.m.

As of 4 a.m. Sunday the mandatory evacuation orders include the Skidoo Lane and Finley Point areas, and from mile marker 6 through mile marker 12 on Highway 35. People south of mile marker 6 should be prepared to evacuate.

Power has been shut off in the area.

Fire officials ask residents to put a sock on their doorknob or a pillowcase on their mailbox to let first responders know you've evacuated.

The situation is changing quickly on the fire. Follow the Finely Point/Yellow Bay Fire Department and the Lake County Sheriff's Office for the latest updates.

Homes below the fire on Highway 35 were evacuated Saturday morning. At 10:50 a.m. CSKT Division of Fire Information Officer C.T. Camel said it was unclear how many residences were impacted by the evacuation order. Those evacuation orders were then lifted Saturday evening. At this time it's unclear if the new evacuation orders issued Sunday morning cover the same area.

The B-2700 road off Highway 35 is closed to reduce risk to firefighters and the public. As of Saturday morning, the fire was estimated at 150 acres.

The Boulder 2700 Fire burning near Highway 35 about eight miles east of Polson, July 31, 2021.
Shaylee Ragar
/
Montana Public Radio
The Boulder 2700 Fire burning near Highway 35 about eight miles east of Polson, July 31, 2021.

All access roads to the Boulder and Lake to Sky area remain closed to non residents. Fire suppression operations will be on going.

Fire officials are asking the public to avoid Skidoo Bay with all watercraft as air operations will also continue for at least the next couple of days.

The Meagher County Sheriff has ordered the evacuation of the Smith Creek Subdivision due to extreme fire danger and increased fire activity of the American Fork Fire. The order was issued around 5:30 p.m.

A Facebook post from the Park County Sheriff's Office Saturday evening says the American Fork Fire has forced evacuations on Shields River Road above milepost 14 as well as Smith Creek. Shields River Road will be closed to resident only above Hamilton Rd.

The American Fork Fire is burning 14,300 acres about 24 miles south west of Harlowton. It is 10% contained.

The Broadwater County Sheriff issued a mandatory evacuation Friday night near the Woods Creek Fire for east of Highway 284, everything from Gravely Lane south through Dry Gulch.

The sheriff says the Ray Creek area should be on high alert.

The Woods Creek Fire is burning about 12,300 acres near Boulder Lakes in the Big Belt Mountains.

According to incident commanders for the fire on inciweb, evacuation orders are still in effect for the Upper Duck Creek road, Upper Gurnett Creek road, and Upper Dry Gulch Road.

Evacuations remain in effect for Forest Service recreation sites: Thompson Guard Station, Gipsy Lake Campground, and the Atlanta Creek Road.

Homes below the fire on Highway 35 were evacuated earlier in the day. At 10:50 a.m. CSKT Division of Fire Information Officer C.T. Camel said it was unclear how many residences were impacted by the evacuation order.

The B-2700 road off Highway 35 is closed to reduce risk to firefighters and the public. As of Saturday morning, the fire was estimated at 150 acres.

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