According to the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest, the Meagher County Sheriff’s Office has issued an evacuation order for the Woods Creek area. The evacuation orders are for Gipsy Creek to Big Birch Creek. The Forest Service announced the order on Facebook around 2 p.m, along with a road closure at mile marker 7 at Birch Creek Road. The Woods Creek Fire is burning more than 20,000 acres 16 miles northeast of Townsend.
Northwest Montana Weather Warning
The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning until midnight tonight for areas in western Montana and northern Idaho.The weather service reports strong dry thunderstorms are expected in the region. Those storms are expected to be accompanied by erratic winds of up to 30 and 40 miles per hour, increasing potential fire risk with new fire starts from lightning strikes possible. The weather service says new fire start potential is especially of concern for areas that have received little to no rainfall in recent days. Strong, gusty winds could knock down tree limbs or blow over unsecured objects.
These wildfire updates prioritize the latest information on incidents that could impact public health and safety. This is not a comprehensive list of fires burning in the state. The fires we report on will vary as information changes.
Goat Fire
Updated August 5, 5:29 p.m.
Location: 11 miles Northeast of Philipsburg, MT
Size: 212 acres
Containment: 0%
Evacuation orders and warnings :
Major closures: The area surrounding the Goat Fire is closed. Fire officials ask if you do not need to access the area, please don’t. Public accessing the area requires firefighting operations to pause for safety reasons, delaying firefighting efforts.
Conditions: A Red Flag Warning is in effect until midnight tonight for projected thunderstorms and winds up to 50 mph.
Cause: Lightning
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7694/Dry Cabin Fire
Updated August 5, 5:26 p.m.
Location: 20 miles north of Ovando
Size: 3,000 acres
Containment: 0%
Major closures: A list of public land closures can be found here.
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/7660/62604/
Gatlin Gulch Fire
Updated 5:18 p.m.
Location: 6 miles southwest of Boulder, MT
Size: 60 acres
Containment: 25%
Conditions: A Red Flag Warning is in effect for potential gusty, 40 miles per hour winds and lightning expected this evening.
Cause: Undetermined
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7749/
American Fork Fire
Updated August 5, 5:12 p.m.
Location:
Size: 14,738 acres
Containment: 10%
Evacuation orders and warnings: A pre-evacuation warning remains in place for residences in the Shields River Road area.
Major closures: Custer-Gallatin National Forest Closure map here.
Conditions: Red Flag Warning is in place in the region Thursday as dangerous conditions are possible due to strong, erratic winds along with new fire starts. Thunderstorms are forecast
Cause: Lightning
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7681/Woods Creek Fire
Updated August 5, 4:45 p.m.
Location: 16 miles northeast of Townsend
Size: 20,136 acres
Evacuation orders and warnings: The Meagher County Sheriff's Office has issued an evacuation for the Woods Creek Fire in the following area: Gipsy Creek to Big Birch Creek. A road closure is in effect at mile marker 7 at Birch Creek Road.
Major closures: Forest Service closures can be found here.
Cause: Lightning
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7649/Crooks Fire
Updated August 5, 4:23 p.m.
Location: 8 miles south east of Arlee
Size: 1,000 acres
Containment: 0% as of August 1
Evacuation orders and warnings: None
Major closures: St. Mary’s to the North Forks is closed. The main Jocko Road is closed through the 3000 Rd junction.
Cause: Lightning
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7759/Boulder 2700 Fire
Updated August 5, 4:20 p.m.
Location: Mission Mountains east of Flathead Lake and 9 miles east of Polson.
Size: 1,800 acres
Containment: 0%
Evacuation orders and warnings: There is an evacuation order in place for residents along Highway 35 from Mahoon Lane to mile marker 13 on the east side of Flathead lake. The Finely Point area remains in stage 2 evacuation status, meaning residents should be prepared to evacuate if fire activity increases.
Major closures: Highway 35 is closed in both directions from Polston at the Highway93/35 junction to Blue Bay mile marker 15.
Cause: Unknown
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7754/Burnt Peak Fire
Updated August 5, 3:43 p.m.
Location: About 9 miles southwest of Troy
Size: 3,465 acres
Containment: 46%
Evacuation orders and warnings: Residences in North Fork Keeler Creek have been placed in the Set category, on pre-evacuation notice. All area residents should be Ready to leave if evacuations are necessary.
Major closures: Forest service in the area can be found here.
Cause: Lightning
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7619Hay Creek Fire
Updated August 5, 3:41 p.m.
Location: 4 miles west of Polebridge
Size: 2,677 acres
Containment: 10%
Evacuation orders and warnings : All residences east and west of the North Fork Road from Home Ranch Bottoms north to and including Moose Creek Road and the community of Polebridge are under evacuation warnings. Glacier National Park has issued an evacuation warning for the North Fork area of the park north of Logging Creek.
Major closures: National Forest System road and trail closures here
Cause: Lightning
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7712/
Whitetail Creek Fire
Updated August 5, 3:39 p.m.
Location: 8 miles south of Swan Lake in the Whitetail drainage
Size: 320 acres
Containment: 30%
Evacuation orders and warnings: No structures are threatened at this time.
Major closures: Whitetail Creek Road and the southern half of Porcupine Creek road are closed.
Cause: Lightning
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7767/South Yaak Fire
Updated August 5, 7:05 a.m.
Location: 4 miles northwest of Troy
Size: 8,384 acres
Containment: 10%
Evacuation orders and warnings: Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office conducted mandatory evacuations for all residents on East Side Road and Kilbrennan Lake Road. Residences in Pine Creek, 17 Mile Creek, and Sylvanite are on pre-evacuation notice.
Cause: Lightning
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7696/
West Lolo Complex
Updated August 5, 7:40 a.m.
Location: West Lolo Complex includes the Thorne Creek Fire, near Thompson Falls
Size: 18,334 acres
Containment: 7%
Evacuation orders and warnings: All residences east/northeast from Allen Ranch south along Blue Slide Road to the intersection of the BPA power lines, following the power lines through Ashley Creek to the Thompson River are under evacuation orders. All residences to the west of Allen Ranch south alongBlue Slide Road to the intersection of Highway 200, on the west side of the Clark Fork River are under pre-evacuation warnings.
Conditions: Isolated thunderstorms and gusty windsor possible through Thursday evening. Cooler conditions are expected through the weekend with a small chance of rain.
Cause: Lightning
More fire information: https://www.facebook.com/WestLoloComplex
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7620/Granite Pass Complex
Updated August 5, 7:45 a.m.
Complex Location: 35 miles southwest of Missoula
Complex includes:
Shotgun Fire: on the Powell Ranger District located seven miles north of Powell Junction on Highway 12.
Boulder Creek Fire: 8 miles west of Lolo Pass Visitor Center.
BM Hill Fire: ten miles north of Powell Junction.
Lolo Creek Fire: located between mile marker 1 and 2 along the Highway 12 corridor about 1 mile west of Highway 12, and 1.5 miles northwest of the Lolo Pass Visitor Center
Complex Size: 5,739 acres
Containment: 4%
Evacuation orders and warnings: The Missoula County Sheriff’s Office has placed an evacuation warning from mile marker 10 on U.S. Highway 12 to mile marker 0 at the Idaho border. Residents in this area should be ready to leave immediately if an evacuation order is issued.
Major closures: Highway 12 is open but officials ask travelers to not stop along the road.
Conditions: A Red Flag Warning is in place in the region Thursday as dangerous conditions are possible due to strong, erratic winds along with new fire starts. Thunderstorms are forecast.
Cause: Lightning
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7653/Alder Creek Fire
Updated August 5, 8:00 a.m.
Location: About 8 miles west of Wise River
Size: 11,313 acres
Containment: 10%
Evacuation orders and warnings:The Beaverhead County Sheriff has ordered evacuations on the Southside of Highway 43 from Alder Creek Road to Dickie Bridge and the on the westside of the Scenic Byway from the Wisdom Airport to Harriette Lou Road.
The Beaverhead County Sheriff has issued an evacuation warning for the Alder Creek Community and Highway 43 from mile marker 35 to the county line at mile marker 41.5. This includes Doolittle Creek Road and North Doolittle Creek Road. The Sheriff’s Office says there is a high probability of the need for evacuation in this area.
Major closures: Closures for the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest here.
Conditions: A Red Flag Warning is in place in the region Thursday as dangerous conditions are possible due to strong, erratic winds along with new fire starts. Thunderstorms are forecast
Cause: Unknown
More fire information: https://www.facebook.com/AlderCreekandTrailCreekFires
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7641/Christensen Fire
Updated August 5, 8:10 a.m.
Location: 12 miles west of Wise River
Size: 8,510 acres
Containment: 0%
Evacuation orders and warnings :
Major closures:
Conditions: A Red Flag Warning is in place in the region Thursday as dangerous conditions are possible due to strong, erratic winds along with new fire starts. Thunderstorms are forecast
Cause: Unknown
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7702/
Trail Creek Fire
Updated August 5, 8:00 a.m.
Location: 35 miles southwest of Missoula
Size: 35,661 acres
Containment: 10%
Major closures: Big Hole National Battlefield is closed. North and South Van Houten, Miner Lakes, Twin Lakes, May Creek and Divide Bridge Campgrounds are closed.
Conditions: A Red Flag Warning is in place in the region Thursday as dangerous conditions are possible due to strong, erratic winds along with new fire starts. Thunderstorms are forecast
Cause: Lightning
More fire information: https://www.facebook.com/AlderCreekandTrailCreekFires
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7634/Black Mountain Fire
Updated August 5, 8:20 a.m.
Location: 13 miles south of Jackson, MT. 20 miles east of Salmon, ID
Size: 1,042 acres
Containment: 0%
Major closures: Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest closures here. Salmon-Challis National Forest closures here.
Conditions: A Red Flag Warning is in place in the region Thursday as dangerous conditions are possible due to strong, erratic winds along with new fire starts. Thunderstorms are forecast
Cause: Lightning
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7691/
Harris Mountain Fire
Updated August 5, 8:55 a.m.
Location: 7 miles southeast of Cascade
Size: 31,460 acres
Containment: 20%
Evacuation orders and warnings: The Cascade County Sheriff has issued evacuation orders for residents living on Adel Road south of the intersection with the West Hound Creek Road, Cannon Lake Lane, Sheep Creek Road, Sheep Creek Lane and Austin Lane. A pre-evacuation notice is in place for Novak Creek lane.
Cause: Lightning
Meetings: A community meeting will be held Friday August 6th at 10:00 a.m. at Wedsworth Hall, located at 13 Front Street South, Cascade, MT.
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7719/
Updated August 5, 8:55 a.m.
Location: About 7 miles west of Neihart
Size: 9,788 acres
Containment: 26%
Evacuation orders and warnings: The Cascade County Sheriff has issued an evacuation order for Belt Park.
Major closures:
Conditions: Red Flag Warning is in place in the region Thursday as dangerous conditions are possible due to strong, erratic winds along with new fire starts. Thunderstorms are forecast
Cause: Lightning
Meetings: A community meeting will be held Thursday August 5th at 7 p.m. at the Monarch Fire Station.
