Highlighted Activity
![Smoke and fire in forested area from the McElwain Fire](https://inciweb-prod-media-bucket.s3.us-gov-west-1.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_2600x2600/public/2024-08/DNRC%20Helitack_McElwain%20Fire%201_0.jpg?VersionId=wsVpHHwC79FJB0zP1132MBeKketuyUXJ&itok=2Do66pn6)
The McElwain Fire, located 10 miles west of Helmville in Powell County, is burning in grass and timber on private and Bureau of Land Management land under Montana DNRC wildland fire protection. The fire was mapped via an infrared flight and has been downsized to 116 acres. The fire is 25% contained.
The Powell County Sheriff’s Office has lifted all evacuation warnings in the area, which includes residents in the Ledger Road area. Please visit the Powell County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page for specific information and further updates. The public is asked to use caution if traveling in the area due to increased firefighting equipment traffic.
Current as of | Fri, 08/30/2024 - 13:51 |
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Incident Time Zone | America/Denver |
Incident Type | Wildfire |
Cause | Lightning |
Date of Origin | |
Location | 10 miles west of Helmville, MT |
Incident Commander | Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation |
Incident Description | The fire is burning in grass and timber on private and Bureau of Land Management land under Montana DNRC wildland fire protection. It is comprised of two adjacent fires, a north fire, and a south fire and fire behavior includes creeping and smoldering with isolated torching. Resources are being downsized to match the current fire demands and now include four engines, one eight-person hand crew (Module), one water tender, and two skidgines. A Type 2 DNRC helicopter is available for support if needed. With the downsizing of resources and reduced complexity, the fire will transition to a Type 4 incident. |
Coordinates |
46° 50' 36.5994'' Latitude
-113° 6' 5.4
'' Longitude
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Total Personnel: | 48 |
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Size | 116 Acres |
Percent of Perimeter Contained | 25% |
Fuels Involved | Grass and timber |
Planned Actions |
Firefighters will continue securing all control line by mopping up (extinguishing all flame and heat) 100-150 feet deep. The infrared flight identified hot spots close to the line that firefighters will focus on today. Future fire updates will be provided only on Inciweb unless conditions warrant otherwise. |
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Weather Concerns | Hot and dry weather will occur through Labor Day weekend, with light variable winds. Above normal temperatures and minimum relative humidities in the teens and lower 20s are predicted through the weekend, heightening the concern for increased fire behavior. The next chance for precipitation will be late Monday and Tuesday. |
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