Single Publication

Incident Commander: Richard Griffin (Type 3 IC) and Kyle Errecart (Type 3 IC Trainee)

Location: 15 miles northeast of Wisdom, MT in the Sawlog Creek drainage

Start Date: 05/01/2025

Cause: Undetermined – under investigation

Size: 1,834 acres 

Resources Assigned: 5 crews; 5 engines; 2 helicopters; 1 water tender; 3 skidgens

Total Personnel: 205

Containment: 48%

CURRENT STATUS/PLANNED ACTIONS:

An infrared (IR) flight was conducted to map the fire perimeter and identify areas of remaining heat last night. Based on improved mapping accuracy, the fire’s estimated size has increased to 1,834 acres.  The IR flight also confirmed that heat remains throughout the fire area.  The approximate 200 acre “donut hole” or  interior pocket of unburned fuels was not included in acreage total.

Strategic firing operations were completed in the “donut hole” or interior pocket located on the north side of Sawlog Creek yesterday, as firefighters used the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) to light and burn the fuels between the uncontrolled fire edge and the constructed control line on the eastern flank. Firefighter may continue strategic firing operations on the south side of Sawlog Creek today, reducing available fuels between the uncontrolled fires edge and the control line.

Crews completed fireline immediately adjacent to the fire’s edge from the south side of Tucker Creek to the north side of Sawlog Creek.  Firefighters along with two skidgens will progress south with mop-up operations, working along the previously constructed fireline. Two spike camps are supporting smokejumpers and three hotshot crews working along the eastern flank of the fire. Helicopters continue to deliver supplies by air to keep these crews equipped and operational.

Fire crews will keep working along the western and northern edge of the fire, checking any remaining heat and putting out hot spots.  A boat has been utilized in ferrying firefighters across the Big Hole River on the west side.  This work will continue over the next few days as they focus on securing and improving containment lines.

WEATHER, FUELS, AND FIRE BEHAVIOR:

Elevated fire weather conditions are expected today and tomorrow with strong southwest winds. Afternoon thunderstorms will track along the divide moving eastward over the fire through the evening with wind gusts exceeding over 35 mph.  Another round of strong southwest winds is expected Sunday with a chance for showers and thunderstorms.  There is a low confidence for any wetting precipitation.

Fire behavior may pick up today in the afternoon with the potential for thunderstorms and gusty winds.  Fuel conditions, during this time of year (pre-green up), are extremely dry.

The fire is burning mainly in sagebrush and Lodgepole pine timber. The north-facing slopes in the area consist of a high “dead and downed” fuel component in a mixed conifer forest, and numerous “snags” or hazard trees are present. This fuel combination poses additional hazards for firefighters and affects on-the-ground progress.

Ensuring firefighter safety and protecting life and property are of the utmost importance during any incident.

The fire footprint from the 2021 Alder Fire is located to the east, and the fire footprint from the 2021 Christensen Fire lies to the south.

CLOSURES:

The Montana Fish, Wildfire and Parks has issued an Emergency Site Closure for the Fishtrap Creek Fishing Access Site on the Big Hole River due to fire activity from the Sawlog Fire. The site is closed to public use from Mudd Creek Bridge to Sportsman’s Park.

For public safety reasons, the Bureau of Land Management has issued a temporary closure for the Sawlog dispersed camping area, located at the Big Hole River ford site. Specific closure language can be viewed on the Sawlog Fire Inciweb page, Closures tab.

A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) has been implemented over the fire area. This allows for firefighting aircraft to safely work over the fire area.  Firefighting aircraft and drones are a dangerous combination. Drones in the area could lead to accidents or slow down wildfire suppression operations. If you fly…we can’t.