Single Publication

      Hog Trough Fire
      July 28, 2022 Update

Acres: 592 acres

Start Date: July 17th, 2022

Cause: Lightning

Origin Location: 18 miles southeast of Hamilton

Facebook: Hog Trough Fire Information

Fire Information: 406-763-1134 daily from 8am-8pm

Percent Contained: 9%

Jurisdiction: Bitterroot National Forest and Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest

Website:  https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8258/

Total Personnel: 141

Resources Assigned: 3 Hand Crews, 2 Helicopters, 4 Engines, 2 Skid Engine, 2 Excavators, 1 Water Tender

Skalkaho Highway (Highway 38) is OPEN. To ensure firefighter and public safety, Forest Service 75 (Skalkaho-Rye) Road is currently closed from the junction of Highway 38 to Mile Marker 5 near Skalkaho Creek-Jerry Lake Trailhead #503. Forest Service 5070 (Sand Basin Creek) and 5071 Road is currently closed. Forest Service 711 Road is closed.

A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the fire area. Please do not fly drones near wildfires. Unauthorized drones were spotted near the fire over the weekend. Use of unauthorized unmanned aerial systems (UAS), or drones, in a fire area endangers the lives of pilots and firefighters. Know before you fly.

Summary: The Hog Trough Fire is at 592 acres and is burning in the Sapphire Wilderness Study Area (WSA) on both the Bitterroot and Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forests. No structures are currently threatened and no evacuations are in place. It is burning is remote, rugged terrain in a previous burn area from 2000.

Planned Actions: Heavy equipment (feller bunchers and excavators) will continue reducing vegetation along FS 75 Road and identify potential holding features such as roads, trails and natural barriers. Hand crews will remove overgrown vegetation along Skalkaho Creek-Jerry Lake Trail #503 and begin scouting other holding features on in the southeast corner of the fire. Fire manager’s objective is to keep the fire south of Highway 38, east of FS 75 Road, and west of FS 5071 Road. Crews will also be determining other potential holding features along the northern area of the fire.

Fire Activity: The fire grew 5 acres overnight. It will continue to creep and smolder and higher fire activity is expected in areas exposed to winds. There is a 20% chance of thunderstorms over the fire area today bringing gusty winds up to 30-40 MPH. Single and group tree torching and short-range spotting (200 feet) can occur and fire and spread in heavy accumulations of down woody debris. The fire may impact FS 5071 Road to the east in the next 24 hours. Due to significant safety threats and inaccessibility, firefighters currently are not directly engaging the fire on the ground.

Fire Danger: Fire Danger is at Very High on the Bitterroot National Forest. Fire Danger is High on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. No fire restrictions currently in place. For current fire restrictions, visit mtfireinfo.org.

Closures: See Inciweb for specific closure information.

·        FS Road 75, From Junction 38 and FS 75 to Mile Marker 5 (Skalkaho Creek-Jerry Lake Trailhead #503).

·        FS 5070 and FS 711 Roads are Closed.

·        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.