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:   2,873 Acres

Completion/Containment: 23 percent

Resources assigned: 650 people

Current Status

Firefighters built direct dozer and hand line on the northern boundary in the Larson Creek drainage. Today they will continue direct line construction around a section of hot edge, as well as hold and secure existing lines. 

On the east side, crews have mopped up two chains (1 chain =66 feet) in from the dozer line along the Forest boundary. Mopping up means making sure the ground is cold by turning over hot spots with hand tools and applying water from backpack pumps or hose lays with portable water tanks. This area of the fire will move into patrol status.

On the south edge, firefighters and helicopters chased spot fires all day on the 739 road system in upper McCalla Creek. Night shift crews continued finding and extinguishing spot fires. Further south, firefighters continue to construct and improve direct and indirect control lines using heavy equipment and hand crews. Four hotshot crews will work today to hold the fire north of the 739D road in McCalla Creek drainage. A rappel module will be inserted on the southwest side to address areas of heat along the western fire edge. 

Significant fire growth occurred on the west side of the fire and it has crossed Selway Bitterroot Wilderness boundary.  

Structure protection resources are staging in nearby neighborhoods during the day to respond to fire activity. Night shift resources will work on the southern edge 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 thunderstorm yesterday produced 0.1” of rain on some areas of the fire. A warming and drying trend has begun, and temperatures will return to the 80s. Fuels remain dry underneath thick canopies. Active fire behavior will still be present when the fire reaches subalpine fir and exhibits single tree torching. Winds are expected to be generally upslope at 6-8 mph.  

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. Direct evacuation questions 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.