The latest news on wildfires around western Montana.
Last Updated: Tues. July 26, 06:00 p.m.
The Billings Gazette is reporting a 30-acre fire was discovered at the Billings Rod and Gun Club at about 10:30 last night.
The fire started in a wheat field, and threatened at least one structure, but there was no damage reported.
The Great Falls Tribune is reporting a pastureland fire six miles north of Great Falls that was reported late this morning. That fire is in the same area as one that burned 1,200 acres last week.
The 629 acre lightning-caused Blue Lake Fire southwest of Ennis went from zero percent contained yesterday, to thirty percent contained today.
Fire Information Officer Kari Maddox:
"That’s really good news for residents because that area is the 30 acre spot fire on the southern edge of the fire, as well as kinda that southeastern flank of the fire. And the reason that’s good news is because those are the areas that are close to Haypress and Shining Mountains, the two communities in proximity to this fire."
Yesterday, crews ignited potential fuel pockets within the perimeter of the fire to reduce risk of further spread.
The estimated containment date is August 6.
Updated: Tues. July 26, 12:40 p.m.
The Blue Lake Fire that was reported to be 629 acres yesterday went from zero to 30 percent contained as of this morning. The fire is burning 10 miles southwest of Ennis, near Axolotl Lake.
Axolotl Lake Road is closed from Highway 287 to Shining Mountain Loop Road, as are parts of Stockdrive Road and the BLM Axolotle Lake Wilderness Study Area.
There are currently 287 personnel working on this fire. Having conducted a burnout of potential fuel around the fire yesterday, firefighters are working to clean up the area and continue working towards containment.
The moderate fire activity is partly due to high temperatures and low relative humidity.
Officials estimate the fire will be contained by August 6, 2016.
The Pole and Fine Fires, also southwest of Ennis, are still burning on a total of 88 acres. Officials seem largely unconcerned about the fires spreading, as there are only two firefighters assigned at the moment.
Only five percent of the perimeters have been contained. Unless both fires are extinguished or noticeably increase, the current monitoring system will continue.
Firefighters working the Deer Creek Fire southeast of Tarkio have established hose lays and continue mop-up work. Crews will continue to test for hot spots on the 16 acre fire. It hasn't grown in the last 48 hours.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
This will be the last update for the Deer Creek Fire unless conditions on the ground change.
