Single Publication

CURRENT STATUS
Fire behavior on the Hog Trough Fire was minimal yesterday due to cooler temperatures, scattered precipitation, and higher humidity levels. Crews will steer the fire to the south and east, through previously burned areas where there are fewer values at risk. There will be minimal to no perimeter growth to the north and northwest.
Today on the southwest flank of the Hog Trough Fire, crews will continue brushing the Weasel Creek Trail to clear flammable materials. A dozer will begin improving the 1135 Road, north of the Weasel Creek Trail, as a contingency line to stop fire progression to the north. To the southeast, crews built line around and held a slop-over fire that crossed of the Signal Rock Trail yesterday. Today, crews will conduct planned firing operations off of the Signal Rock Trail, routing the fire slowly back down the hill as a means to widen the fuel break in a safe and controlled manner, halt wildfire progression to the north, and prevent more slop-over fires from occurring. When completed, the fireline along the Signal Rock Trail will tie into the 5071 Road at a wet riparian area.
The Fuse Lake Fire has showed little to no perimeter growth yesterday and is now 75% contained. Today, crews will work along the fire edge, mopping up and extinguishing hot spots. Helicopters will fly supply missions and fill water tanks with buckets. With significant lightning recently, ground and air resources will be available to respond to new fire starts nearby.

WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR
Expect scattered showers and thunderstorms this afternoon. Gusty erratic outflow winds, lightning, and brief heavy rainfall will accompany thunderstorms. Lightning may result in new fire ignitions where fuels are receptive. Fire behavior on the Fuse Lake Fire is minimal with smoldering. Fire behavior on the Hog Trough Fire will be moderate with creeping, smoldering and some single tree torching.

CLOSURES AND SPECIAL MESSAGES

Skalkaho Highway (Highway 38) is open. 

Road Closures:

• Skalkaho Road (Forest Service road 75) and  Forest Service road 711 are both closed at the junction of Skalkaho Highway, including the ancillary roads leading from the 711 Road.  Skalkaho Road is open past Mile Marker 5 (Skalkaho Creek-Jerry Lake Trailhead #503).
• Forest Service roads 5070 and 5071 are closed.

  Trail Closures:

• Railroad Creek, National Forest System Trail #77 to Trail #313 at the gate. 
• Weasel Creek, National Forest System Trail #156 from milepost 0.00 at its junction with NFSR #461.
• A section of the Bitterroot Rock Creek Divide Trail #313, National Forest System Trail #313 where it intersects Trail #77 Railroad Creek, Weasel Creek Trail #156. 
• Skalkaho Creek – Jerry Lake Trail #503, National Forest System Trail #503. 

  Fire Restrictions: Stage 2 Fire Restrictions on all Bitterroot National Forest lands in Montana. See mtfireinfo.org for more specific restrictions information.