Single Publication

Northern Rockies Team 3, Incident Commander Mike Behrens

Location: Three miles west of Stevensville, Montana in Ravalli County

Start Date: 8/23/2024

Cause: Lightning  

Size:   2,399 Acres

Completion/Containment:  3 percent

Resources assigned: 626 people

No infrared flight was available overnight due to smoke coverage, therefore acreage was not updated. 

Current Status

Fire established in the head of Larson Creek on the northern boundary. Firefighters worked to hold and secure existing control lines during the passing cold front. Water dropped from the heavy helicopters helped crews catch a spot fire and cooled the fire edge. Additional resources are assigned today to continue holding and securing lines. 

On the east side, crews dug hand line around a spot on the northeast corner yesterday, assisted by water from air resources. They will continue cleaning and mopping up the burnout on the dozer line along the Forest boundary.

On the south edge, the fire spotted onto the north slopes in upper McCalla Creek yesterday. Firefighters and helicopters worked most of the evening to curb fire progression. Crews on the night shift worked hard to hold the fire in its current footprint. Further south, more dozer line was completed and today firefighters will continue to construct and improve direct and indirect control lines using heavy equipment and hand crews. Yesterday crews connected existing roads together with dozer and hand lines to create a secondary control line south of the fire. Firing may occur as conditions allow today, as resources will work take advantage of cooler weather and build direct line.

Significant fire growth occurred on the west side of the fire with strong winds from the passing cold front.  

Structure protection resources are staging in nearby neighborhoods during the day to respond to fire activity. Night shift resources will work on the southern, eastern and northern edges and patrol affected neighborhoods. They also have initial attack responsibilities. Aviation resources will check fire spread and support firefighters as smoke allows. 

Weather and Fire Behavior

The fire experienced a trace of rain overnight. Temperatures will be in the mid-70s over the fire. Intermittent thunderstorms are expected with the chance of wetting rain and stronger outflow winds. Winds are expected to be generally west at 16 mph. Decreased fire behavior is expected. 

SMOKE

For the current smoke reports, visit https://www.airnow.gov/   

EVACUATIONS, RESTRICTIONS, CLOSURES 

The Ravalli County Sheriff’s Office has updated evacuation orders and warnings for neighborhoods in the vicinity of the Sharrott Creek Fire. Download the Ravalli Co. Sheriff’s Office app for information. Evacuation questions can be directed to the Ravalli County Emergency Operations Center at 406-375-6650. The Bitterroot National Forest has issued an area closure from North Fork Sweeney Creek to Sweathouse Creek. See https://tinyurl.com/Sharrottclosure for the order and map. There are temporary flight restrictions (TFR) over the fire area west of Highway 93 from Bass Creek to Big Creek.