Single Publication

Northern Rockies Team 5, Incident Commander Joe Sampson

Location: Three miles west of Stevensville, Montana

Start Date: 8/23/2024

Cause: Lightning

Size: 3,204

Completion: 80%

Total Personnel: 238

Current Status 

Firefighters will work alongside resource advisors from the local Forest to plan and implement suppression repair efforts using hand tools to pull back constructed firelines. Efforts will also include placement of waterbars to prevent erosion from runoff. Starting today, excavators will begin work on the northern and southern equipment lines constructed during initial attack. 

Area closures surrounding the fire area are still in effect. These closures are necessary to protect the safety and welfare of the public and provide for safe firefighting operations and access. Fire managers are working in conjunction with Bitterroot National Forest officials to assess the need and potential boundary changes, shrinking the affected area within the closure. 

Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) have been lifted over the fire area and are no longer in effect. 

Weather and Fire Behavior 

Temperatures in the valley will reach the lower 70s while temperatures at higher elevations will stay in the 60s. Partly cloudy conditions will become mostly cloudy in the afternoon. Minimum relative humidity will be in the lows 40s with southwest winds at 6 to 12 mph. Mid-slope winds could gust 15 to 20 with gusts as high as 25 mph on the ridgetops by mid-afternoon. Another system of moisture is expected to move into the region by Monday afternoon.

 Fire behavior will be creeping and smoldering through the weekend, primarily in stump holes, large logs, and accumulated fuels. Flare-ups with smoke columns may be visible due to wind and solar radiation.

RESTRICTIONS and CLOSURES  

- Area closures are in effect from North Fork Sweeney Creek to Sweathouse Creek. More information on Bitterroot National Forest area closures can be found at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/bitterroot/alerts-notices 

- The Bitterroot National Forest is currently in Stage I Fire restrictions within the Anaconda Pintler Wilderness.