The Rosebud County Department of Emergency Services has issued an evacuation notice for the Ashland area due to the 63,000-acre Richard Spring Fire burning southwest of Colstrip. The fire is anticipated to burn to the south and east today through another 20,000 to 30,000 acres in Rosebud County.
The evacuation notice for the Ashland area includes:
- North Tongue River Road
- Highway 212
- Rabbit town
- St Labre Campus
- Amish Community
U.S. Highway 212 from Broadus to Crow Agency and Highway 39 from Colstrip to Lame Deer both closed to traffic Tuesday afternoon. Pre-evacuations are in place for Highway 212 and Lame Deer.
There's a shelter at the Boys and Girls Club in Lame Deer, and Powder River County is in the process of setting up a shelter.
According to a 1 p.m. post from The Rosebud County Sheriff’s Office, Colstrip is not under any evacuation order or warning at this time.
The Tongue River Electric Coop posted on its Facebook page that its crews are busy extinguishing fires on its power poles and that power remains intact, but added, “It is very possible with the increased activity and threat to our main transmission line we could lose power. Please have understanding and patience during this time. Please make preparations.”
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.
Granite Pass Complex
Updated August 10, 3:25 p.m.
Location: Multiple locations near Lolo Pass
Size: 5,739 acres
Containment: 15%
Evacuation orders and warnings:
Major closures:
Conditions: The gradual warming and drying trend continues today as a ridge builds over the region bringing warmer temperatures and lower levels of relative humidity. Temperatures will be in the upper 60s and low 70s with humidity dropping into the 40s at lower elevations. Winds will be stronger today with gusts around 20 mph at the fire area. Temperatures are forecast to be back in the mid to upper 80s by the end of the week.
Cause: Lightning
More fire information: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/7653/63313/
Meetings:A virtual public meeting is scheduled for today, Tuesday, August 10 at 6:00 p.m. The meeting will be streamed live on the Granite Pass Facebook page.
You do not need a Facebook account to watch the live broadcast. If you are concerned about your connection speed or can't attend the meeting, please submit any questions you might have throughout the day to 2021.granitepasscomplex@firenet.gov or call the fire information line at 406-624-9176 (before the meeting starts), and they will be addressed during the meeting. We will record the meeting and post it to our social media channels.
West Lolo Complex
Updated August 10, 3:23 p.m.
Location: West Lolo Complex includes the Thorne Creek Fire, near Thompson Falls, MT
Size: 21,967 acres
Containment: 15%
Evacuation orders and warnings: Evac Order: all residences in the Harlow and Ashley zones. Pre-Evac/Warning: all residences in the Graves NE and Graves SE zones.
Major closures:
Conditions: A northwest flow aloft behind a low pressure trough moving off to the east of the Northern Rockies kept temperatures cooler than seasonal averages today with moderately low afternoon humidity. Ridgetops and valleys with exposure and alignment from northwest to southeast will see 20-25 mph wind gusts into early this evening before winds decrease, while lighter slope-driven winds prevail in steeper drainages.
An upper level high pressure ridge will strengthen along the west coast and expand east throughout the week, bringing increasingly warm and dry conditions. Temperatures will return to seasonal levels Tuesday, then warm well above seasonal averages through the rest of the week with lower elevation temperatures near 100 by the end of the week. Low afternoon humidity will follow increasingly poor overnight recovery at mid-slopes to ridgetops by late this week.
Cause: Lightning
More fire information:
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7620/
Trail Creek Fire
Updated August 10, 2:56 p.m.
Location: 20 miles West of Wisdom, MT on HWY 43
Size: 35,928 acres
Containment: 26%
Evacuation orders and warnings:
Major closures:
Conditions: Tuesday marks the start of a warming and drying period, as upper level ridging builds back into the region. Temperatures will warm into the mid to upper 70s, with a few locations into the 80s.
Cause: Lightning
More fire information: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7634/
Alder Creek Fire
Updated August 10, 2:54 p.m.
Location: About 7 miles west of Wise River in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest.
Size: 11,725 acres
Containment: 10%
Evacuation orders and warnings: The Beaverhead County Sheriff on Aug. 4 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 Foresthere.
Hwy 43 and Pioneer Byway remain open. Motorists are asked to slow down and be on the alert for firefighters, heavy smoke, and downed trees. Please check the Montana DOT Road Report website MDT.MT.gov/travinfomobile for current conditions.
-Continental Divide Trail: Closed from Lemhi Pass north to Mussigbrod Creek.
-Big Hole National Battlefield is closed until further notice. North and South VanHouten, Miner Lakes, Twin Lakes, May Creek and Divide Bridge Campgrounds are closed.
-Forest Closure orders are in effect for all three fires.
Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/bdnf/alerts-notices
Salmon-Challis NF: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/scnf/alerts-notices
Conditions: Today’s temperatures will be in the mid to high 70’s. Minimum relative humidity between 16 to 23 percent and West to Northwest winds at 10 to 13mph with gusts to 25mph.
Cause: Unknown
More fire information:https://www.facebook.com/AlderCreekandTrailCreekFires
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7641/
Christensen Fire
Updated August 10, 2:50 p.m.
Location: 12 miles west of Wise River, located on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest
Size: 8,744 acres
Containment: 10%
Evacuation orders and warnings:
Major closures: Forest Closure Orders are in effect for the fire area, see Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest closures here https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/bdnf/alerts-notices
Hwy 43 and Pioneer Byway remain open. Motorists are asked to slow down and be on the alert for firefighters, heavy smoke, and downed trees. Please check the Montana DOT Road Report website MDT.MT.gov/travinfomobile for current conditions.
-Continental Divide Trail: Closed from Lemhi Pass north to Mussigbrod Creek.
-Big Hole National Battlefield is closed until further notice. North and South VanHouten, Miner Lakes, Twin Lakes, May Creek and Divide Bridge Campgrounds are closed.
-Forest Closure orders are in effect for all three fires.
Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/bdnf/alerts-notices
Salmon-Challis NF: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/scnf/alerts-notices
Conditions: Today’s temperatures will be in the mid to high 70’s. Minimum relative humidity between 16 to 23 percent and West to Northwest winds at 10 to 13mph with gusts to 25mph.
Cause: Unknown
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7702/
Black Mountain Fire
Updated August 10, 3:51 p.m.
Location: cated 13 miles south of Jackson, MT and east of Skinner Lake and Skinner Meadows in both the Dillon and Wisdom Ranger Districts.
Size: 1,042
Containment: 50%
Evacuation orders and warnings:
Stage 1 evacuation Highway 43 from Mile Marker 35 to the County Line at Mile Marker 41.5. This includes the residents of Doolittle Creek Road and North Doolittle Creek Road. Southside of Highway 43 from Alder Creek Road to Dickie Bridge. Westside of the Scenic Byway from the
Wisdom Airport to Harriette Lou Road. All evacuation status was removed in Alder Creek drainage and Southside of Highway 43 from Alder Creek Road to Mile Marker 62.
Lemhi County Sheriff has contacted residences in threatened areas on the west side of the Trail
Creek Fire in Idaho and placed in “Set” evacuation status. Info: 208-756-8980
Major closures: -Continental Divide Trail: Closed from Lemhi Pass north to Mussigbrod Creek.
-Big Hole National Battlefield is closed until further notice. North and South VanHouten, Miner Lakes, Twin Lakes, May Creek and Divide Bridge Campgrounds are closed.
-Forest Closure orders are in effect for all three fires.
Conditions: Today started off chilly, as overnight lows dipped into the low 30s and 40s. Lingering cloud cover scattered out this afternoon and temperatures climbed into the 60s. A dry airmass continued to move in throughout the day, with daytime mixing and heating allowing relative humidity values to drop into the 25 to 35 percent range as clouds cleared.
Tuesday marks the start of a warming and drying period, as upper level ridging builds back into the region. Temperatures will warm into the mid to upper 70s, with a few locations into the 80s.
Cause: Lightning
More fire information: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7691/
Harris Mountain Fire
Updated August 10, 2:25 p.m.
Location: 10 miles southeast of Cascade
Size: 31,591 acres
Containment: 46%
Evacuation orders and warnings: As of yesterday, August 9th, the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office rescinded all evacuation orders and pre-evacuation notices related to the Harris Mountain Fire in Cascade County.
Cause: Lightning
Conditions: High pressure building over the Great Basin will bring a warming and drying trend through at least Wednesday with breezy afternoons.
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7719/
Balsinger Fire
Updated August 10, 1:08 p.m.
Location: Balsinger West of Neihart, MT. Ellis Fire 20 miles NW of White Sulphur Springs.
Size: 9,834 acres
Containment: 45%
Evacuation orders and warnings: As of August 9, Park Co Sheriff’s Office has moved Shields River Road residents back to pre-evacuation status. Meager County has done the same with the Smith Creek area.
This is due to favorable weather and fire behavior but could change as needed.
Major Closures: All National Forest Systems lands, including all roads and trails within the boundary of the following area, except as stated below, are closed
Conditions: Below normal temperatures (down to the upper 40's) and cloudy skies this morning will give way to partial clearing in the afternoon. Strong west to northwest winds up to 40mph will continue along the ridgetops with humidity down to 30-35%. Cool temperatures expected again tonight with warmer and dry conditions for Tuesday.
Cause: lightning
More fire information: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7624/
Woods Creek Fire
Updated August 10, 2:15 p.m.
Location: 16 miles NE of Townsend, MT, near Boulder Lakes in the Big Belt Mountains.
Size: 45,590 acres
Containment: 3%
Evacuation orders and warnings: As of August 9, Park Co Sheriff’s Office has moved Shields River Road residents back to pre-evacuation status. Meager County has done the same with the Smith Creek area. This is due to favorable weather and fire behavior but could change as needed. The county roads in the area are open; however, there are still closures in the forest.
Conditions: Below normal temperatures (down to the upper 40's) and cloudy skies this morning will give way to partial clearing in the afternoon. Strong west to northwest winds up to 40mph will continue along the ridgetops with humidity's down to 30-35%. Cool temperatures expected again tonight with warmer and dry conditions for Tuesday.
More fire information: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7649/
American Fork Fire
Updated August 10 2:15 p.m.
Acreage: 19,028
Containment: 10%
Start date: July 17, 2021
Cause: Lightning
Personnel: 82
Location: 24 miles southwest of Harlowton, Montana.
Conditions: Below normal temperatures down to the upper 40s, and cloudy skies this morning will give way to partial clearing in the afternoon. Strong west to northwest winds up to 40mph will continue along the ridgetops with humidity down to 30-35%. Cool temperatures expected again tonight with warmer and dry conditions for Tuesday.
Evacuation and Warnings: As of August 9, Park Co Sheriff’s Office has moved Shields River Road residents back to pre-evacuation status. Meager County has done the same with the Smith Creek area. This is due to favorable weather and fire behavior but could change as needed. The county roads in the area are open; however, there are still closures in the forest.
Goose Fire
Updated August 10 1:20 p.m.
Location: 32 miles SSE of Ennis, MT near Hoodoo Pass
Size: 7,522 acres
Containment: 90%
Evacuation orders and warnings :
Major closures: As of August 7 - https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd938376.pdf
Conditions: Red Flag warning in effect from noon to 2100 on Sunday. An approaching cold front will keep winds southwesterly and rain showers are expected to begin after 0800 tomorrow morning with thunderstorms starting after 1400. Monday looks to be partly cloudy with a slight chance of rain in the morning.
Cause: Lightning
More fire information: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7618/
South Yaak Fire
Updated: August 10, 12 p.m.
Location: 4 miles northwest of Troy, Montana.
Size: 10,388
Containment: 44%
Evacuation orders and warnings : Residences on East Side Road, Kilbrennan Lake Road, 17 Mile Creek, and Sylvanite are on pre-evacuation notice. All residents should be ready to leave if evacuations are necessary.
Major closures: For public safety, the Callahan Creek Road 427 and Callahan Historic Trail are closed as there is a lot of heavy equipment working along this route.
Conditions: Today will see increased winds out of the west, with gusts up to 20 mph. Temperatures are expected to climb back above normal with the valleys approaching the triple digits later in the week. Humidity values will also fall back into the teens causing all moisture from the last rainfall to evaporate quickly. Temperature inversions are expected to form each night leading to warmer temperatures on the ridges and only moderate humidity recovery. .
Cause: Lightning
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7696/
Burnt Peak Fire
Updated August 10t, 11:30 a.m.
Location: Approx 9 miles southwest of Troy, MT
Size: 3,583 acres
Containment: 46%
Evacuation orders and warnings:. Residences in North Fork Keeler Creek are on pre-evacuation notice. All residents should be ready to leave if evacuations are necessary.
Conditions: Today will see increased winds out of the west, with gusts up to 20 mph. Temperatures are expected to climb back above normal with the valleys approaching the triple digits later in the week. Humidity values will also fall back into the teens causing all moisture from the last rainfall to evaporate quickly. Temperature inversions are expected to form each night leading to warmer temperatures on the ridges and only moderate humidity recovery.
Cause: Lightning
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7619/
Boulder 2700 Fire
Updated August 10, 11 a.m.
Location: In the Mission Mountains east of Flathead Lake, and eight miles east of Polson, MT
Size: 2,072 Acres
Containment: 33%
Evacuation orders and warnings: Yesterday, August 9, 2021, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office initiated re-entry to properties outside of the fire perimeter and north of the fire area near mile marker 11 up to mile marker 13.5 and Blue Bay. Mission Valley Power continues to restore power to this area. The closure checkpoint is at mile marker at 11. Access to and from this area will only be from the north of the Boulder 2700 fire, coming south on Highway 35 from Bigfork.
Major closures: As of August 5 - Due to the State of Emergency that exists on the Flathead Reservation as a result of the threat of extreme fire weather and upon advice from the Incident Management Team of the Boulder 2700 Fire to ensure public and firefighter safety, the Tribal Council of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes has passed Resolution 21-100 which is a temporary emergency closure on a portion of Flathead Lake.Effective immediately, a Temporary Boating Restriction (TBR) will go into effect on Flathead Lake in the immediate vicinity of the Boulder 2700 Fire. Similar to a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) for aircraft, a Temporary Boating Restriction (TBR) creates a no public boating zone on the surface water in order to ensure public and firefighter safety during wildfire response.
Conditions: The weather today will be warmer and drier with a high near 81, and winds out of the west at 10-15 mph, with gusts on the ridges at 25 mph. Hotter and drier weather continues, with winds shifting easterly tomorrow through Thursday.
Cause: Lightning
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7754/
Hay Creek Fire
Updated August 10, 11 a.m.
Location: Approximately 4 miles west of Polebridge, Montana
Size: 2,894 acres
Containment: 23%
Conditions: A slow warming and drying trend will begin today through the weeks end. As ground fuels dry, smoke from smoldering fuels will become more apparent.
Cause: Lightning/natural
Meetings: There will be a community meeting at the Sondreson Hall on Wednesday, August 11, at 6:00 pm.
Dry Cabin
Updated August 10, 9:47 am
Location: 20 miles north of Ovando, MT
Size: 3,060 acres
Cause: Lightning
Closures: Area and Trail Closures in Effect in Bob Marshall and Scapegoat Wildernesses Due to Dry Cabin Fire
More fire information: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7660/
