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  • wildfire Wildfire
  • prescribed fire Prescribed Fire
  • burned area emergency response Burned Area Response
  • other type Other

Sheep Creek

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Unit Information

Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest 
420 Barrett St 
Dillon, 
Montana 
59725 
Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest 
420 Barrett St 
Dillon, 
Montana 
59725 

Incident Contacts

Fire Information
Email: terina.hill@usda.gov
Phone: 406-865-0941
Hours: 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Highlighted Media

Sheep Creek Fire Location
Sheep Creek Fire Location
Wed, 09/25/2024 - 23:38
Sheep Creek Fire Location
Sheep Creek Fire Location

Sheep Creek Fire looking south from Cluney Gulch, southwest of Bernice, MT.

Sheep Creek Fire location and imagery
Sheep Creek Fire location and imagery
Thu, 09/26/2024 - 19:31
Sheep Creek Fire location and imagery
Sheep Creek Fire location and imagery

Location of the Sheep Creek fire in relation to Bernice, MT and Forest infrastructure.

Sheep Creek Fire along the ridgetop
Sheep Creek Fire along the ridgetop
Wed, 09/25/2024 - 23:36
Sheep Creek Fire along the ridgetop
Sheep Creek Fire along the ridgetop

Sheep Creek Fire burns beetle-killed lodgepole pine trees near Bernice, MT.

Distant view of the small plume of smoke in the Forest past the dry grass meadow.
Expand Image: [ Full Size ]
Distant view of the small plume of smoke in the Forest past the dry grass meadow.

The Sheep Creek Fire was discovered on September 22 around noon. The cause was determined to be a hold-over from lightning associated with a storm that passed through the area on September 17. The fire is burning in a remote area along a ridgetop, with very poor access and a large amount of beetle-killed lodgepole pine. 

Fire managers from the Forest, along with interagency partners, have identified very few critical values at risk. These values are located in the lower valleys and road corridors and are not currently threatened by the fire.

Fire managers are utilizing a combination of full suppression and monitor strategies.

Basic Information
Current as of Thu, 09/26/2024 - 19:33
Incident Time Zone America/Denver
Incident Type Wildfire
Cause Lightning
Date of Origin
Location 5 miles southwest of Bernice, MT
Incident Commander Doug Bertelsen
Coordinates 46° 12' 34'' Latitude
-112° 24'
38
'' Longitude
Current Situation
Total Personnel: 22
Size 81 Acres
Fuels Involved

Fuels include timber, with grass and litter understory. There is a large component of standing dead and down trees due to insect mortality.
Significant Events

The fire has moved to the northeast, away from any critical values. This movement was expected, given the warm temperatures and gusty winds that materialized as a cold front passed through the area.

 
Outlook
Planned Actions

Firefighting resources will engage the fire when safe to do so, as the fire is located in a remote area with poor access and a large number of beetle-killed trees. 
Projected Incident Activity

Active fire behavior is expected, given the predicted weather conditions. Interior burning of large fuels will continue, with movement to the northeast away from identified values at risk.
Remarks

Completion of operational objectives is 38%.

The overall fire suppression strategy consists of 25% full suppression and 75% monitor.  

The full suppression objectives are 100% complete.

The monitor objectives are 13% complete. 
Current Weather
Weather Concerns

Unseasonably warm and dry conditions predicted for several days. Gusty southwest winds materialized over the fire area Wednesday afternoon and evening, as a cold front passed through.  Another gradual warming and drying trend is in store for the weekend. A weak disturbance will move through the region early next week, bringing another round of westerly winds. 

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