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Nevada Lake Fire

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Unit Information

1539 Eleventh Ave. 
Helena, 
59601 
1539 Eleventh Ave. 
Helena, 
59601 

Incident Contacts

Kristin Mortenson
Email: Kristin.Mortenson@mt.gov
Phone: 406-381-7451
Hours: 7 am - 8 pm

Highlighted Activity

Location: 8 miles east of Helmville, MT, 0.5 miles north of Nevada LakeStart Date: 10/14/2024Cause: Escaped Prescribed Burn   Size: 207 acresContainment: 0% CURRENT STATUSThe Nevada Lake Fire is currently 207 acres and actively burning in open grass and heavy timber on the Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) Nevada Lake Wildlife Management Area (WMA) and private land east of Helmville,… Read more
Publication Type: Announcement -

Highlighted Media

Nevada Lake Fire perimeter, October 15, 2024

The Nevada Lake Fire is currently 207 acres in size and burning actively in open grass and heavy timber on the Fish, Wildlife and Parks Nevada Lake Wildlife Management Area and private land east of Helmville, Montana. There are structures in the area, but none are threatened at this time. The wildfire is the result of a FWP escaped prescribed burn ignited on Monday, October 14th north of Nevada Lake on the WMA. The burn was declared a wildfire at approximately 4 p.m. when attempts to control “slopover” or areas where the prescribed fire escaped containment lines were unsuccessful. The DNRC is managing the wildfire response. Initial response efforts to the wildfire included 12 local government engines from four fire departments, four DNRC engines, and one USFS engine. A Very Large Air Tanker (VLAT) dropped two loads of retardant to help slow its progress. 

Current resources on scene include 11 engines, two dozers, two skidgines, one excavator, and two Type 2 helicopters plus helitack personnel. A Type 3 Incident Commander is enroute, as well as additional helicopters and a Type 2 hand crew. 

Basic Information
Current as of Tue, 10/15/2024 - 16:52
Incident Time Zone America/Denver
Incident Type Wildfire
Cause Human
Date of Origin
Location 8 miles east of Helmville, MT, 0.5 miles north of Nevada Lake
Incident Commander Montana Department of Natural Resources & Conservation
Incident Description The Nevada Lake Fire is burning actively in open grass and heavy timber on the Nevada Lake Wildlife Management Area and private land eight miles east of Helmville, Montana.
Coordinates 46° 48' 35.316'' Latitude
-112° 47'
32.172
'' Longitude
Current Situation
Size 207 Acres
Percent of Perimeter Contained 0%
Fuels Involved

Open grass and heavy timber.

Outlook
Planned Actions

Today, firefighters will focus on protecting values at risk and halting the fire’s forward progress. Ground crews will work on establishing and securing containment lines around the fire’s perimeter, while helicopters drop water on hot spots. 

Current Weather
Weather Concerns

Today will be the last warm and dry day in front of a cold front passing through Wednesday. The cold front will bring with it a chance of wetting rains but also an increase in southwest to westerly winds, which could elevate fire behavior. Cool and showery conditions will continue on Thursday, with a chance of snow at 4000 feet. 


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