Single Publication

Type 3 Incident Command Team, Incident Commander Matt Young  

Location: Bitterroot NF: Railroad Creek/ Skalkaho Creek confluence, 26 miles southeast of Hamilton

Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF: 20 Miles northwest of Georgetown Lake Dam off Skalkaho Hwy 38

Start Date: 7/25/2024  

Cause: Undetermined                 

Daly Fire Acres: 10,205  Railroad Fire Acres: 1,496  Completion: 56%

Total Personnel: 258

Current Status 

An overnight infrared flight showed increased acres from days prior. Crews continued burn out operations to the southwest towards Skalkaho Hwy 38. Dozer and handline continued on the Gird/Skalkaho ridge. Firefighters continued firing off the dozer line creating a wide blackline in efforts to slow fires progression. Multiple helicopters aided firefighters during firing operations. Crews persisted with felling operations to remove hazardous trees along Skalkaho Hy 38. 

Today crews will continue chipping along the coal creek road. They will also continue constructing a 100’ shaded fuel break extending from the Hwy 38 corridor to Stoney Creek drainage ridgeline.  

On the west side of the fire, crews will hold previous firing operations in the Buckhorn Saddle area as well as cutting hazardous trees along Skalkaho Hwy 38.

Weather and Fire Behavior 

Continued high pressure will bring warm and dry conditions with daily winds. Relative humidity recoveries will continue to be poor through Wednesday. Warm and dry conditions are forecasted Monday and Tuesday.

After Wednesday cooler temperature's are expected with periods of precipitation and snow levels lowering to 4,000 feet. There is a 50% Probability for at least 2” of snow over mountain passes by Friday morning.

EVACUATIONS

On October 9, 2024 the Ravalli County Sheriff’s Office issued an Evacuation Warning for residents off of Skalkaho Highway (1700-2500 block) due to the Railroad-Daly Fire. For more information on evacuations visit the Ravalli County Sheriff Facebook page. 

To register your phone number for emergency notifications in Ravalli County visit, http://hyper-reach.com/mtravallisignup.html.

CLOSURES  

For additional information on the Skalkaho Hwy 38 road closure visit Montana Department of Transportation.

The Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest has issued an Area/Road/Trail Closure effective October 4, 2024. 

The Bitterroot National Forest has also issued a road closure effective October 10, 2024.

 These order’s are for public and firefighter safety during fire suppression efforts on the Fire. 

Closure information and maps are posted on the Bitterroot and Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forests’ website www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/bdnf/alerts-notices and www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/bitterroot/alerts-notices.