Current Activity:
The fire has reached 100% containment. Crews finished mopping up hot spots on the fire's southern edge and most suppression work has been completed in the fire area. This will be the final daily update provided for the fire, as the County Assist Team plans to transition the fire back to local resources today, Saturday, October 9th.

Fire Behavior and Weather:
Predicted weather is forecasted as cooler temperatures, increased wetting rain and moderate winds. Relative humidity will likely stay above 25% today with wind gusts up to 30 mph and highs in the mid to high 50s. Minimal fire behavior is expected and no concerns of additional fire spread. The fire will continue to smolder, however, all activity is expected to be over 100 feet from the fire's edge.

Important Messages:
The Denton Highway, Denton Cutoff and the Hanover Road are open for all traffic. If you have further questions regarding the South Moccasin Fire, call the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Northeastern Land Office at 406-538-7789.

Fire Summary:
The South Moccasin Fire began Monday, October 4, 2021 around 12:45pm. The cause is currently under investigation. The fire is located about 7 miles northwest of Lewistown in the South Moccasin Mountain Range. Local resources from Fergus County, BLM and the DNRC responded. The fire is burning in heavy timber and grass, mostly on private land.

Current Activity:
Containment on the fire has increased to 80%. Crews will continue to "mop up" hot spots along the fire's southern edge. The majority of suppression repair is complete along the east side of the fire and crews will complete suppression repair to the south in the coming days. Crews are continuing to remove dangerous dead, standing trees along Tower Road. The County Assist Team plans to transition the fire back to local resources at 2pm Saturday.

Fire Behavior and Weather:
Continued cooler and wetter conditions are expected in the coming days. Today's high will likely be in the high 50s to low 60s with relative humidity in the high 30s to low 40s. Minimal fire spread is expected, with some creeping and smoldering in the interior of the fire. Relative humidity will likely stay above 25% tomorrow with wind gusts up to 30 mph and highs in the mid to high 50s.

Important Messages:
All road closure information can be found on the Montana Department of Transportation website: mdt.mt.gov/travinfo/alerts.shtml. Keep firefighters safe by slowing down while driving on open roads near and around the fire area.

If you would like to donations or volunteer your time towards fire efforts, please contact your local volunteer fire department. The County Assist Team is not accepting donations at the fairgrounds at this time but your support is greatly appreciated!

Current Activity:
Containment on the fire is currently 45%. Crews will continue to monitor completed line on the north and east edge of the fire. Throughout the fire area, crews are "mopping up" hot spots along the fire's edge and patrolling the perimeter for any fire activity. Crews will continue to improve constructed fireline along the southeastern flank and complete suppression repair in the fire area as needed. Helicopters will support crews on the ground as needed.

Fire Behavior and Weather:
Cooler temperatures and higher relative humidity are expected to decrease fire spread and moderately decrease fire activity in the coming days. Temperatures will likely be in the high 50s to low 60s with northeasterly ridgetop winds up to 20 mph. Rain is likely, with a tenth of an inch of rain expected to accumulate by Saturday morning. Interior pockets of fuel will continue to burn out, which will cause fire activity and smoke to be visible from Lewistown and the surrounding area. The southeastern edge of the fire remains the most active area of fire activity.

Important Messages:
All road closure information can be found on the Montana Department of Transportation website: mdt.mt.gov/travinfo/alerts.shtml. Keep firefighters safe by slowing down while driving on open roads near and around the fire area.
If you would like to donations or volunteer your time towards fire efforts, please contact your local volunteer fire department. The County Assist Team is not accepting donations at the fairgrounds at this time but your support is greatly appreciated! 

Current Activity:
The DNRC’s County Assist Team (CAT) assumed command of the South Moccasin Fire at 12pm yesterday, Tuesday, October 5. Damage assessments conducted in the fire area yesterday found 5 structures destroyed, none of which are primary residences.

Crews conducted strategic burn operations on the southwest and southeast side of the fire last night. This strategy involves burning fuels between constructed dozer line and the main fire, removing ground vegetation that would allow the main fire to progress. Due to an overnight easterly wind shifts, the fire pushed northwest and west. This led to increased, visible fire activity and smoke overnight. Crews are working to contain this area of growth by constructing additional containment lines on the southwest and west areas of the fire.

Fire crews have been successful in keeping the fire south of Denton Highway (Highway 81), in part by conducting strategic burn-out operations. Crews will continue to improve constructed fireline, "mop up" hot spots along the fire's edge and patrol the fire's perimeter for any fire activity. Helicopters will support crews on the ground by providing water bucket drops in the fire area as needed.

Fire Behavior and Weather:
Unseasonably warm temperatures in the mid to high 70s, ridgetop winds gusting up to 35 mph and low relative humidity in the teens continue to drive substantially fire behavior. The southeastern area of the fire remains the most active, with single and group tree torching. A cold front is expected to pass through the fire area this afternoon but it comes with no chance of precipitation.

Important Messages:
If you wish to be involved with the fire through donations or volunteer work, please contact your local volunteer fire department. The County Assist Team is not accepting donations at the fairgrounds at this time but your support is greatly appreciated!

SOUTH MOCCASIN FIRE UPDATE

OCTOBER 5, 2021

Public Information Line: 406-290-3017 | Email: DNRcat.team@gmail.com
 

SOUTH MOCCASIN FIRE | Start Date: October 5, 2021 | Cause: Undetermined | 7,000 acres | 0% contained |  Total Personnel: 50 | Structures Burned: 0 | Closures: 1  | Location: 7 miles northwest of Lewistown, MT

Incident Commander: David Hamilton, County Assist Team (CAT)  

FIRE SUMMARY: The South Moccasin Fire is located northwest of Lewistown, MT in the South Moccasin Mountain Range. It was detected at 1246 on October 4, 2021. The cause of the fire is undetermined. Aviation and ground resources responded to the fire yesterday and will continue through today. Crews were busy on the fire line yesterday on the eastern, southern, and northern edges of the fire. Two helicopters were ordered to aid in fire suppression and perform bucket drops. During initial attack, one helicopter executed a precautionary landing after experiencing a mechanical malfunction. A maintenance team is evaluating what repairs need to be completed to return the aircraft to service. Additional aviation support was requested during the maintenance period.
 

The Denton Highway (MT-81) near west Lewistown, MT has instituted a closure from Mile Marker 24.8 to 42, including the junction with US-191. 

 A Ptarmigan Fire community debrief featuring the Summit County Sheriff’s Office, Summit Fire and EMS, and the U.S. Forest Service will be held Oct. 21 beginning at 6 p.m. at Silverthorne Town Hall, 601 Center Circle. 

SILVERTHORNE, Colo. – Firefighters will continue to patrol the 86-acre Ptarmigan Fire as fall weather provides more moisture to the area. Most resources have been released from the Ptarmigan Fire, and local crews will continue patrolling.  
The fire remains 75 percent contained. Firefighters have built containment line around the fire, but do not yet consider parts of the north and east flank fully contained. This area has an extremely large volume of dead and downed trees, making it difficult for firefighters to find heat on the ground as well as to effectively and safely complete mop-up. 
The fire has not grown in two weeks, and no heat or smoke has been detected recently. However, the potential for fire activity remains in the heavy fuels until rain and/or snow can fully saturate the area. 
A closure remains in place for the area burned by the Ptarmigan Fire as well as the trails leading into the burned area. The Dillon Ranger District is coordinating closely with firefighters as it evaluates the closure.  
Current information about the Ptarmigan Fire and forest closure is available on Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7857/.
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The Forest Closure related to the Ptarmigan Fire has been lifted. There are no closures related to the Ptarmigan Fire, although the public is reminded about the increased risk of falling trees and rocks in and near a burned area following a wildfire.