Incident Publication

A Red Flag Warning is in effect from noon to midnight today for dry lightning and gusty outflow winds.

Wednesday was a day of building firelines, mopping up, tying in lines and protecting structures. Air operations supported firefighting yesterday with five helicopters and two air attack aircraft. Air attack discovered a new fire southwest of the American Fork Fire. Aircraft knocked it down, allowing firefighters to hike to where it was burning in steep terrain. They constructed fireline around the 1/2-acre fire.

American Fork Fire inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7681

Acreage: 14,738 Containment: 10% Start date: July 17, 2021 Cause: Lightning Personnel: 122
The American Fork Fire is burning in the Crazy Mountains, about 24 miles southwest of Harlowton, Montana. A mandatory evacuation is still in effect for the Smith Creek area and portions of the Upper Shields River. Significant heat remains south of Shields River. Crews held spots in this area and protected a private structure. Firefighters were successful in using aircraft to cool down several hot spots in the Crandall Creek area. Dugout Creek and Lodgepole Creek, east of Crandall Creek, are a concern today. Crews continue to remove burnable vegetation along Shields River and Bennet Creek roads to create fire breaks, construct fireline, and mop up in the southeast edge of the fire near Sweetgrass Creek. They are evaluating any internal unburned pockets of vegetation that could threaten containment lines. Private landowners are helping firefighters by offering sources of water to fight the fire. The southern and northern edges show minimal heat. Crews will patrol and mop up there.

Balsinger and Ellis fires inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7624 inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7625

Acreage: Balsinger 9,788 Ellis 1,227 Containment: 26% Start date: July 8, 2021 Cause: Balsinger -Lightning; Ellis – under investigation. Personnel: 331

The Balsinger Fire is burning about five miles west of Neihart, Montana. Yesterday Operations Section Chief Troy Floyd said “All in all, it was a very quiet day on Balsinger,” which received more than an inch of rain in some areas on Monday. This allowed firefighters to make good progress on mop up and secondary line construction. The fire on the southeast side showed little movement and was held by a game trail. There was also no movement in the Thunder Mountain area, and hose lays and fireline construction continued in the Monarch area. Strong winds and a red flag warning today may challenge firelines, so firefighters are focusing on protecting the communities of Neihart and Monarch. Other areas protected include: Belt Park, Deer Creek Estates, the Tenderfoot Experimental Forest and the Highway 89 corridor. Today, crews will monitor, mop up, lay hose lines, hold, maintain and patrol firelines all along Divide Road. Areas retaining heat where winds may align with terrain and dry vegetation include the Divide Road and Tillinghast Creek area. Liaison Officers met with residents of Monarch last night at the Monarch Fire Department in preparation of doing some tree thinning to make a fuel break. Work continues to mop up and improve line to keep the fire from reaching Keegan Peak and Belt Park Butte. Night crews will monitor and hold firelines.

The Ellis Fire, about 2.5 miles southwest of Smith River, Montana, continues to show limited fire activity. This fire is in patrol status with daily monitoring by aircraft. Meagher County Sheriff Jon Lopp has rescinded the pre-evacuation order associated with the Ellis Fire for the Smith River corridor from Camp Baker to the confluence with Blacktail Creek.

Woods Creek Fire inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7649

Acreage: 20,146 Containment: 0% Start date: July 10, 2021 Cause: Lightning Personnel: 234

The Woods Creek Fire continues to burn in inaccessible terrain in the Big Belt Mountains, about 16 miles northeast of Townsend, Montana. This fire was active yesterday. Firefighters are constructing and securing firelines, installing hose lays in the Duck Creek and Baldy Creek areas, and tying in lines near private property. Sprinklers are in place at Confederate Gulch, where additional hose lays and structure prep have been the focus. On the southeastern end of the fire, hose lays are assisting mop up efforts. Heat remains near the Thompson Guard Station and mine in that area. Firefighters are engaging the fire directly where it is safe to do so. Fire will likely be active along the eastern edge in the Atlantic Creek, Boulder Creek, Duck Creek and Gipsy Creek areas today. Confederate Gulch and Duck Creek remain focus areas for structure protection and line construction. Night crews will monitor and control fire spread, and provide structure protection, in coordination with the local fire departments. A mandatory evacuation order issued by the Broadwater County Sheriff’s Office remains in place for the Woods Creek Fire, covering everything east of Highway 284 between Gravely Lane on the north and Dry Gulch Road on the south. Ray Creek is on high alert. Highway 284 remains open.

Evacuation Notices

A pre-evacuation order remains in place for residences in the Shields River Road area.

An evacuation order for Smith Creek subdivision was issued by the Meagher County Sheriff’s Office on Saturday, 7/31.

An evacuation order for Belt Park, issued by the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office, remains in place.

A pre-evacuation order was issued for the area from the Belt Creek Ranger Station to Monarch and from west of Monarch to the confluence of Pilgrim Creek and Belt Creek.

The Broadwater County Sheriff’s Office has issued an evacuation order in connection with the Woods Creek Fire.

Weather

A Red Flag Warning is in effect from noon to midnight today for dry lightning and gusty outflow winds. Thunderstorm activity will increase in the afternoon and continue into the evening. A temperature drop of about 10 degrees is expected for daytime high temperatures, along with isolated/scattered showers and thunderstorms for Friday through the weekend.

Today will be partly cloudy, cool in the morning with good RH recoveries. It will become hot and dry by late morning. Thunderstorm activity will increase in the afternoon and continue into the evening with dry lightning and strong gusty winds. Moderate SW ridgetop winds are anticipated.

Closures

Temporary flight restrictions (TFR) remain in place for the American Fork Fire and the Balsinger Fire.

The Belt Creek-White Sulphur Springs Ranger District, Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest expanded the closure area for the Balsinger Fire on July 29.

The closure order for the part of the American Fork fire on the Custer-Gallatin National Forests was updated on July 29 (map).

The Big Elk Creek Trail (#640) on the part of the American Fork fire on the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest remains in place.

The Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest issued an area closure for the Woods Creek Fire on July 26, 2021. An additional closure was issued for the Woods Creek Fire August 4, 2021.

Advisories

Help prevent additional fire starts by following all campfire restrictions and fire-related closures.

Most of the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest is in stage 2 fire restrictions.

Stage 1 fire restrictions remain in place for the Custer Gallatin National Forest. The Custer Gallatin has also restricted campfires in all locations.

Visit www.MTFireInfo.org for statewide fire restriction information.

Visit the AirNow.gov website for more information on air quality near you.

Notice from Sheriffs Offices in Meagher and Park Counties

Related Incident:

Publication Type: Announcement Thu, 08/05/2021 - 12:00

NOTICE:

From: Meagher County Sheriff’s Office and Park County Sheriff’s Office

Attn: Smith Creek residents

If residents of Smith Creek community need access to evacuated properties, residents must have express, written permission from the Meagher County Sheriff’s Office or Park County Sheriff’s Office per county of residence. Requests MUST be made in person.

New Evacuation for Woods Creek Fire by Meagher Co Sheriff

Related Incident:

Publication Type: Announcement Thu, 08/05/2021 - 12:00

NEW EVACUATION: The Meagher County Sheriff's Office has issued an evacuation for the Woods Creek area in the following area: Gipsy Creek to Big Birch Creek. A road closure is in effect at mile marker 7 at Birch Creek Road.

Daily Fire Update 862021

Related Incident:

Publication Type: News Fri, 08/06/2021 - 12:00

Divide Complex

Daily Update

Friday, August 6, 2021

American Fork, Balsinger, Ellis and Woods Creek fires

Phone: 406-426-9612 (8 a.m. – 8 p.m.)

Facebook: www.facebook.com/HLCNF

The Meagher County Sheriff's Office has issued an evacuation for the Woods Creek Fire in the following area: Gipsy Creek to Big Birch Creek. A road closure is in effect at mile marker 7 at Birch Creek Road.

There will be a public meeting tonight at 6 p.m. at the Football field in White Sulphur Springs.

The Divide Complex Incident Command Post now at the Jackson Ranch in White Sulphur Springs due to the opening of the White Sulphur Springs School. The Woods Creek Fire was very active yesterday. Air operations were busy on that fire and on the American Fork Fire and plan to help firefighters on the ground again today. The change in acreage is based on an infrared flight.

American Fork Fire inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7681

Acreage: 17,537 Containment: 10% Start date: July 17, 2021 Cause: Lightning Personnel: 122
The American Fork Fire is burning in the central part of the Crazy Mountains, about 24 miles southwest of Harlowton, Montana. It’s burning on both the east and west side of the mountain range, approximately 12 miles northeast from Wilsall and approximately six miles west from Melville. A mandatory evacuation is still in effect for the Smith Creek area and portions of the Upper Shields River. Drier conditions led to active creeping, backing and single tree torching. The primary focus today is structure protection for the Shields Creek Drainage. We plan to hold constructed line along the eastern perimeter, continue to use air operations to pick up spots and help structure protection on the western side of the fire. Dugout Creek and Lodgepole Creek, east of Crandall Creek, are a concern today. Crews continue to remove burnable vegetation along Shields River and Bennet Creek roads to create fire breaks and construct fireline. They are evaluating any internal unburned pockets of vegetation that could threaten containment lines. Private landowners are helping firefighters by offering sources of water to fight the fire. The southern and northern edges show minimal heat. Crews will patrol and mop up there.

Balsinger and Ellis fires inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7624 inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7625

Acreage: Balsinger 9,824 Ellis 1,227 Containment: 26% Start date: July 8, 2021 Cause: Balsinger -Lightning; Ellis – under investigation. Personnel: 331

The Balsinger Fire is burning about five miles west of Neihart, Montana. We increased fire containment on the eastern side. Dozers and hand crews worked to tie in firelines and roads on the western side. The fire did not move in the Thunder Mountain area, and hose lays and fireline construction continued in the Monarch area. Firefighters are focusing efforts on protecting the communities of Neihart and Monarch. Other areas protected include: Belt Park, Deer Creek Estates and the Highway 89 corridor. Today, crews will monitor, mop up, lay hose lines and hold, maintain and patrol firelines along Divide Road. The focus will be on keeping fire north of Divide Road. Areas retaining heat where winds may align with terrain and dry vegetation include the Divide Road and Tillinghast Creek area. Firefighters made good progress yesterday in the Monarch area doing some tree thinning to make a fuel break. Work continues to mop up and improve line to keep the fire from reaching Keegan Peak and Belt Park Butte. Night crews are experiencing more fire activity and will monitor and hold firelines. The focus for today will be point/structure protection, making sure livestock has been removed to safe areas, reassessing the fire perimeter to establish anchor points, and improving established anchor points.

The Ellis Fire, about 2.5 miles southwest of Smith River, Montana, continues to show limited fire activity. This fire is in patrol status with daily monitoring by aircraft.

Woods Creek Fire inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7649

Acreage: 20,671 Containment: 6% Start date: July 10, 2021 Cause: Lightning Personnel: 248

The Woods Creek Fire continues to burn in inaccessible terrain in the Big Belt Mountains, about 16 miles northeast of Townsend, Montana. This fire was active yesterday with running, flanking and single tree torching. Firefighters are constructing and securing firelines, installing hose lays in the Duck Creek and Baldy Creek areas and tying in lines near private property. Sprinklers are in place at Confederate Gulch, where additional hose lays and structure prep have been the focus. On the southeastern end of the fire, hose lays are helping mop up efforts. Hose lays are in place for ongoing structure protection in the Thompson Guard Station and mine area. Fire will likely be active today along the eastern edge in the Atlantic Creek, Boulder Creek, Duck Creek and Gipsy Creek areas. The fire grew in those areas overnight due to the 40-50 mph wind gusts in advance of a storm front. As the fire grew to the east, crews did some tactical firing to check the spread as it came up out of those drainages. Confederate Gulch and Duck Creek remain focus areas for structure protection and line construction. Night crews will monitor and control fire spread, and provide structure protection, in coordination with local fire departments. Expect moderate to active fire behavior with surface fire and possible torching. A mandatory evacuation order issued by the Broadwater County Sheriff’s Office remains in place for the Woods Creek Fire, covering everything east of Highway 284 between Gravely Lane on the north and Dry Gulch Road on the south. Ray Creek is on high alert. Highway 284 remains open. A mandatory evacuation in effect for residences along Birch Creek Road and Gipsy Creek to Big Birch Creek.

Evacuation Notices

American Fork Fire

A pre-evacuation order remains in place for residences in the Shields River Road area.

An evacuation order for Smith Creek subdivision was issued by the Meagher County Sheriff’s Office on Saturday, 7/31.

Balsinger Fire

An evacuation order for Belt Park, issued by the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office, remains in place.

A pre-evacuation order was issued for the area from the Belt Creek Ranger Station to Monarch and from west of Monarch to the confluence of Pilgrim Creek and Belt Creek.

Woods Creek Fie

The Broadwater County Sheriff’s Office has issued an evacuation order in connection with the Woods Creek Fire.

There is a mandatory evacuation in effect for residences along Birch Creek Road. The Meagher County Sheriff's Office has also issued an evacuation for following area: Gipsy Creek to Big Birch Creek. A road closure is in effect at mile marker 7 at Birch Creek Road.

Weather

Scattered showers and thunderstorms continue through today with approximate rainfall one tenth to a quarter inch expected. Haze and cloudy conditions may hamper air operations in the morning. Clouds will clear out in the afternoon, increasing fire activity. Saturday is expected to be dry, with potential for active fire behavior. Strong 30 mph winds will likely come from the west Saturday, with gusts up to 50 mph.

Much unburned fuel remains between the active edges of the fire and some primary or contingency lines. Strong west winds are expected over the weekend. Saturday will be dry with isolated thunderstorms, with more chances for wetting rain Sunday afternoon/evening.

Closures

Temporary flight restrictions (TFR) remain in place for the American Fork Fire , the Balsinger Fire and the Woods Creek Fire.

The Belt Creek-White Sulphur Springs Ranger District, Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest expanded the closure area for the Balsinger Fire on July 29.

The closure order for the part of the American Fork fire on the Custer-Gallatin National Forests was updated on July 29 (map).

The Big Elk Creek Trail (#640) on the part of the American Fork fire on the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest remains in place. This also includes the Big Elk Creek Trailhead.

The Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest issued an area closure for the Woods Creek Fire on July 26, 2021. An additional closure was issued for the Woods Creek Fire August 4, 2021.

Advisories

Help prevent additional fire starts by following all campfire restrictions and fire-related closures.

Most of the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest is in stage 2 fire restrictions.

Stage 1 fire restrictions remain in place for the Custer Gallatin National Forest. The Custer Gallatin has also restricted campfires in all locations.

Visit www.MTFireInfo.org for statewide fire restriction information.

Visit the AirNow.gov website for more information on air quality near you.

Community Meeting Friday 8621 600 pm at White Sulphur Springs

Related Incident:

Publication Type: Announcement Fri, 08/06/2021 - 12:00

Heads up! Community Meeting tonight at 6pm at the football field at White Sulphur Springs School. Please join us face-to-face, via ZOOM, or on Facebook Live. Hope to see you there!

Daily Fire Update 872021

Related Incident:

Publication Type: News Sat, 08/07/2021 - 12:00

Divide Complex Daily Update

Saturday, August 7, 2021

American Fork, Balsinger, Ellis and Woods Creek fires

Phone: 406-426-9612 (8 a.m. – 8 p.m.)

Facebook: www.facebook.com/HLCNF

There will be a public meeting Sunday night at 7 p.m. in Wilsall. More information will be forthcoming.

The Divide Complex Incident Command Post is now headquartered at the Jackson Ranch in White Sulphur Springs due to the opening of the White Sulphur Springs School. Today there is potential for fire growth with long-range spotting. Running fire and long-range spotting could result in high rates of spread on active fires where firelines are not secure. The firefighters yesterday had a great day of firefighting overall.

American Fork Fire inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7681

Acreage: 17,537 Containment: 10% Start date: July 17, 2021 Cause: Lightning Personnel: 132
The American Fork Fire is burning in the central part of the Crazy Mountains, about 24 miles southwest of Harlowton, Montana. It’s burning on both the east and west side of the mountain range, approximately 12 miles northeast from Wilsall and approximately six miles west from Melville. A mandatory evacuation is still in effect for the Smith Creek area and portions of the Upper Shields River. Fire activity slowed some yesterday, allowing firefighters to tie in more dozer and hand lines. They built fireline around a spot fire west of Crandall Creek. Crews continue to remove burnable vegetation along Shields River and Bennet Creek roads to create fire breaks and construct fireline. A chipper will be used to clean up roadways that were used as control line. The inside of the fire is looking good, with some heat on the south side. Firefighters are evaluating internal unburned pockets of vegetation that could threaten containment lines. Private landowners are helping firefighters by offering sources of water to fight the fire. The southern and northern edges show minimal heat. Crews will patrol and mop up there.

Balsinger and Ellis fires inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7624 inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7625

Acreage: Balsinger 9,824 Ellis 1,227 Containment: 26% Start date: July 8, 2021 Cause: Balsinger -Lightning; Ellis – under investigation. Personnel: 314

The Balsinger Fire is burning about five miles west of Neihart, Montana. The fire is still growing in isolated areas, with heat remaining around Thunder Mountain. Firefighters are focusing efforts on protecting the communities of Neihart and Monarch. Hoselays are complete in Monarch, with structures prepped. While not much heat remains on the east side, it persists on the west side. Areas protected include: Belt Park, Deer Creek Estates and the Highway 89 corridor. Today, crews will monitor, mop up, lay hose lines and hold, maintain and patrol firelines along Divide Road. The focus will be on keeping fire north of Divide Road. The fire was active south of Thunder Mountain. Areas of concern today include Thunder Mountain and Pilgrim Creek. Areas retaining heat where winds may align with terrain and dry vegetation include the Divide Road and Tillinghast Creek area. Firefighters should complete the shaded fuel break in the Monarch area. Work continues to mop up and improve line to keep the fire from reaching Keegan Peak and Belt Park Butte. Night crews are experiencing more fire activity and will monitor and hold firelines. The focus for today remains point/structure protection, making sure livestock has been removed to safe areas, reassessing the fire perimeter to establish anchor points and improving established anchor points. Firefighters will support private landowners with dozer line construction south to Holloway Gulch. Structure protection group will contact landowners in the community of Prospect, west of the fire, to discuss structure protection in that area.

The Ellis Fire, about 2.5 miles southwest of Smith River, Montana, is in patrol status with daily monitoring by aircraft. No smoke has been observed from this fire in the past few days.

Woods Creek Fire inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7649

Acreage: 25,745 Containment: 4% Start date: July 10, 2021 Cause: Lightning Personnel: 264

The Woods Creek Fire continues to burn in inaccessible terrain in the Big Belt Mountains, about 16 miles northeast of Townsend, Montana, and has moved onto private lands. This fire was active yesterday with running, flanking and group tree torching. The fire is being wind driven and is moving east, as well as north in the Boulder Creek area. Fire made a big run out of Boulder Creek yesterday to Moose Creek, where it got into the grasslands last night. Heavy fuels hold heat, causing the potential for flare-up at many areas around the fire. This fire has multiple drainages that when aligned with winds will produce more than one head fire. Yesterday, the fire spotted west of Loop Road and the fire was backing in that vicinity. Firefighters are working to connect firelines all around that area. Air operations were busy on the Woods Creek fire yesterday but were hindered part of the day due to smoke.

A structure protection group will be working in the Woods Creek Fire to assess structure protection needs. Crews will complete and patrol direct line from Boulder Creek to North Fork Duck Creek to prevent further spread of fire to the north and west. Crews will continue working with landowners to establish indirect control line from North Fork Duck Creek south to Duck Creek Road. Firefighters are constructing and securing firelines, installing hose lays in the Duck Creek and Baldy Creek areas and tying in lines near private property. Crews will continue to assess north to Elk Creek and south to Butte Creek. Mop up will continue around the Thompson Guard Station and historical mine area. The fire pushed out along Gipsy Creek yesterday. Crews put in dozer lines north of this area and then did some tactical burning of several green pockets of vegetation between the fire’s edge and containment lines. That operation will continue today, and mop up as needed. Areas of concern include Mule Creek, Moose Creek and Needles, on the southeastern edge. Night crews will monitor and control fire spread, and provide structure protection, in coordination with local fire departments. A mandatory evacuation order issued by the Broadwater County Sheriff’s Office remains in place for the Woods Creek Fire, covering everything east of Highway 284 between Gravely Lane on the north and Dry Gulch Road on the south. Ray Creek is on high alert. Highway 284 remains open. A mandatory evacuation of six cabins and Big Birch Creek was put in place on Thursday. One outbuilding has been reported lost on the fire.

Evacuation Notices

American Fork Fire

A pre-evacuation order remains in place for residences in the Shields River Road area.

An evacuation order for Smith Creek subdivision was issued by the Meagher County Sheriff’s Office on Saturday, 7/31.

Balsinger Fire

An evacuation order for Belt Park, issued by the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office, remains in place.

A pre-evacuation order was issued for the area from the Belt Creek Ranger Station to Monarch and from west of Monarch to the confluence of Pilgrim Creek and Belt Creek.

Woods Creek Fie

The Broadwater County Sheriff’s Office has issued an evacuation order in connection with the Woods Creek Fire.

Weather

Today is expected to be dry, with potential for active fire behavior. Strong 30 mph winds will likely come from the west, with 40-50 mph gusts on Balsinger and 30-40 mph winds on American Fork and Woods Creek fires. Expect active fire behavior with surface fire, group torching and spotting. Wind-driven fire is the concern. When the wind reaches heat near fuels, strong fire runs may result. Much unburned fuel remains between active edges of the fires and primary or contingency lines in several areas.

Strong winds blew through fire areas yesterday. Westerly winds today will continue through the weekend, with a Fire Weather Watch Sunday. Fuels continue to dry out, with a 73 percent probability for ignition.

Closures

Temporary flight restrictions (TFR) remain in place for the American Fork Fire , the Balsinger Fire and the Woods Creek Fire.

The Belt Creek-White Sulphur Springs Ranger District, Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest expanded the closure area for the Balsinger Fire on July 29.

The closure order for the part of the American Fork fire on the Custer-Gallatin National Forests was updated on July 29 (map).

The Big Elk Creek Trail (#640) on the part of the American Fork fire on the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest remains in place. This also includes the Big Elk Creek Trailhead.

The Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest issued an area closure for the Woods Creek Fire on July 26, 2021. An additional closure was issued for the Woods Creek Fire August 4, 2021.

Advisories

Help prevent additional fire starts by following all campfire restrictions and fire-related closures.

Most of the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest is in stage 2 fire restrictions.

Stage 1 fire restrictions remain in place for the Custer Gallatin National Forest. The Custer Gallatin has also restricted campfires in all locations.

Visit www.MTFireInfo.org for statewide fire restriction information.

Visit the AirNow.gov website for more information on air quality near you.

Community Meeting Sunday 8921 at Wilsall

Related Incident:

Publication Type: Announcement Sat, 08/07/2021 - 12:00

Community Meeting for #DivideComplexFires #WoodsCreekFire #AmericanForkFire #balsingerfire will be held tomorrow night (Sunday, August 8) at 7pm in Wilsall at Veteran's Park. If connectivity allows, we will stream to Facebook Live. Otherwise, we will video and post as soon as we can.

Daily Fire Update 882021

Related Incident:

Publication Type: News Sun, 08/08/2021 - 12:00

Divide Complex Daily Update

Sunday, August 8, 2021

American Fork, Balsinger, Ellis and Woods Creek fires

Phone: 406-426-9612 (8 a.m. – 8 p.m.)

Facebook: www.facebook.com/HLCNF