Single Publication

 The Elmo Fire is currently 16,226 acres and 10% contained. The fire perimeter expanded to the north and east, including Black Lake, Red Lake, the vicinity of Black Lake Rd and Dayton Creek Rd, and approaching Highway 93 near Chief Cliff.

Evacuations

• Mandatory evacuations are in place for the Lake Mary Ronan Corridor including Lake Mary Ronan Road, Black Lake Road, and the surrounding areas. Red Cross evacuation centers have been established at Somers Middle School and Polson High School.

Area Closures

• Highway 93: Single-lane traffic with reduced speeds is possible between Dayton (MM83) and Elmo (MM77). Visibility may be limited. There is no parking for fire viewing to keep the roadway open for emergency vehicles. Motorists can view the most recent updates on highway access at www.511mt.net.
• The Boat Ramp at the Elmo Fishing Access Site is CLOSED.
• Lake Mary Ronan State Park is CLOSED.

Current and Planned Activity

Yesterday, gusty winds began in the early afternoon and aligned with the topography around Chief Cliff, pushing the fire east towards Highway 93. Firefighters made progress establishing containment along the southern perimeter of the fire along Highway 28. Aviation resources were utilized for much of the day but were grounded for a short period of the afternoon due to winds. Overnight, crews continued to operate and coordinate with local resources for structure protection near Black Lake and Red Lake Roads.

Today, firefighters on the eastern side of the fire will continue to focus on structure protection, reinforcing, and constructing line. Air resources will continue to aid firefighters on the ground with water and retardant drops. Resources made available from the southern perimeter will support structure protection to the east. As conditions allow, direct tactics will continue to be utilized along the northern perimeter of the fire to limit fire growth utilizing new dozer lines and the existing roads.

Weather: Mostly sunny with temperatures in the upper 80s. A red flag warning is in effect again today due to steady winds with gusts up to 35 miles per hour and low relative humidity. Afternoon winds are expected to come out of the west.