Single Publication

Type 3 Incident, Incident Commander Justin Abbey, ICT3 Trainee: Chris Kramer   

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: 11,234  Railroad Fire Acres: 1,583 Completion: 58%  Total Personnel: 178 

Current Status : Yesterday’s snow and rain showers provided cooler temperatures and contributed to minimal fire activity. Firefighters continued holding and monitoring previous burn operations. Sawyers progressed along Skalkaho, minimizing the amount of standing dead tress above Hwy 38. Chipping operations continued as well.

 Today, crews will continue holding and monitoring fires edge on Buckhorn Saddle.  Sawers will continue clean up above Skalkaho Hwy 38. Aerial resources are available to the crews as needed. Fire Management will continue developing a suppression repair plan on both the Beaverhead-Deerlodge & Bitterroot National Forests. 

Weather and Fire Behavior : Today is forecast to be mostly sunny, max temperature to be 35-40 degrees with light and variable winds. A low amplitude ridge of high pressure expected to build back over the fire area into the weekend allowing for gradual warming and drying conditions. Another disturbance is expected for Monday bringing more shower activity.  

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 : 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 orders 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.