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Strategic firing operations were successfully implemented on the eastern side of the fire today, as firefighters used UAS (“drone”) to ignite and burn the fuels between the active fire edge and the constructed control lines from previous fire incidents (State Creek Fire of 2020 and McCluskey Fire of 2019) along the Hay Canyon Road.The crews have progressed approximately 40% of the way with completion of firing operations along this section of line.

Additional resources, including three crews and three skidgens, have arrived at the Ratio Mountain Fire, located 20 miles north/northwest of Whitehall between Ratio Mountain and Whitetail Reservoir. An Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) mapping and reconnaissance flight last evening puts the fire at 37 acres.The fire is burning in an area that has recently experienced several large fires. Fire footprints (or previously burned areas) lie to the north (State Creek Fire of 2020), the south (McCluskey Fire of 2019), and the west (Placer Fire of 2021) of the fire location. 

Located 20 miles north/northwest of Whitehall, MT, the Ratio Mountain Fire is currently estimated at 40 acres. Gusty outflow winds associated with passing thunderstorms helped push the fire to the north, towards Pony Creek.  The area did receive light precipitation this afternoon, but coverage was spotty and not enough to impact fire behavior.