Sign up for Summit County Emergency Alerts (https://summitcountyco.gov/1149/Summit-County-Alert)  and at https://www.facebook.com/SummitSheriffCO.

A Red Cross Emergency Shelter is in place at the Summit Middle School.

 SILVERTHORNE, Colo. – Additional firefighting resources have been arriving at the Ptarmigan Fire northeast of Silverthorne.

Firefighters today will focus on using aerial resources to keep the fire from moving downslope closer to structures. Firefighters on the ground are staged in areas for structure protection.

Following aerial mapping last night and continued growth, the fire is estimated at 20 acres. The fire is burning in a heavy mixed forest of aspen, dead-standing and downed lodgepole pine and spruce.

The fire started at approximately 4:30 p.m. Monday, prompting the mandatory evacuation of approximately 300 homes in the Hamilton Creek neighborhood, with, Angler Mountain, South 40 neighborhoods, and Fly Line Drive and Bald Eagle Road west of the Bridge on pre-evacuation notice.

The latest information on evacuations are available by signing up for Summit County Emergency Alerts (https://summitcountyco.gov/1149/Summit-County-Alert)  and at https://www.facebook.com/SummitSheriffCO. A Red Cross Emergency Shelter is in place at the Summit Middle School.

There are several agencies on the fire, including the U.S. Forest Service, Summit Fire & EMS, Clear Creek Fire, Eagle River Fire, East Grand Fire, Grand Fire, Grand Lake Fire, Greater Eagle Fire, Vail Fire and Leadville/Lake County Fire Rescue, under the Mountain Area Mutual Aid agreement.

As air operations resume today, fire managers are reminding the public that use of drones or unmanned aircraft is strictly prohibited. All firefighting aircraft will stop flying if a drone is spotted, greatly impending the firefighting effort. Law enforcement are investigating a drone incursion that occurred last night over the fire.

There will be a public briefing at the Silverthorne Town Hall, 601 Center Circle, Silverthorne, CO 80498, at 11 a.m. and again at 6 p.m. The meeting will be livestreamed on Facebook Live on the Summit County Government’s Facebook page.

The most current information is available: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7857/, the White River National Forest Facebook page @WhiteRiverNF, or call the Ptarmigan Fire Hotline at 970- 668-9700.

 

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Area closure lifted

Big Sky, MT – October 6, 2021 — The Shedhorn Fire, located on the Custer Gallatin National Forest between Big Sky and West Yellowstone, Montana in Upper Tumbledown Creek area, was reported Monday afternoon around 4:00 p.m.

The area closure for the Shedhorn Fire was lifted yesterday providing public access back into the area.  Crews are working on developing fuel breaks in association with identified contingency lines in the Cache Creek area.   

Shedhorn Fire:

• Size: 75 acres
  
• Cause/Start Date: Under Investigation, reported Sept. 27, 2021 around 4:00 p.m.
  
• Personnel: about 10 firefighters
  
• Aircraft: 1 helicopter - A TFR (Temporary Flight Restriction) is in place over the Shedhorn Fire. NO DRONES.
  
•  Structures Threatened: No structures threatened at this time.
  
• Containment: 80%
• Closures: No closures at this time

Weather/ Fuel Conditions: Firefighters are expecting cooler and wetter weather conditions with a chance of thunderstorms this afternoon.  High temperatures today in the fire area should be in the mid-50s to mid-60s and higher relative humidity levels are anticipated. 

Fire is 60% Contained

Big Sky, MT – October 5, 2021 — The Shedhorn Fire, located on the Custer Gallatin National Forest between Big Sky and West Yellowstone, Montana in Upper Tumbledown Creek area, was reported Monday afternoon around 4:00 p.m.

Fire managers lifted the area closure today in anticipation of the forecasted cold and wet weather.  Crews continue working on building fuel breaks and conducting structure assessments as a component of contingency planning in the Cache Creek area.  Contingency plans are needed in the event the fire becomes active again.

Shedhorn Fire:

• Size: 75 acres
  
• Cause/Start Date: Under Investigation, reported Sept. 27, 2021 around 4:00 p.m.
  
• Personnel: about 50 firefighters
  
• Aircraft: 2 helicopters - A TFR (Temporary Flight Restriction is in place over the Shedhorn Fire. NO DRONES.
  
• Structures Threatened: No structures threatened at this time.
  
• Containment: 60%
  
• Closures: No closures at this time

Weather/ Fuel Conditions: The hot and dry weather continues today with highs in the high 60s to mid 70s.  Today will bring low humidity and increasing winds.  A change in the weather pattern is coming with cooler temperatures and higher humidity for the latter half of the week along with scattered showers.

 Area closure remains in place 

Big Sky, MT – October 4, 2021 — The Shedhorn Fire, located on the Custer Gallatin National Forest between Big Sky and West Yellowstone, Montana in Upper Tumbledown Creek area, was reported Monday afternoon around 4:00 p.m.

Fire managers are transitioning from a Type 3 Incident Command Team to a Type 4 today.  Crews continue working on building fuel breaks and conducting structure assessments as a component of contingency planning in the Cache Creek area.  Contingency plans are needed in the event the fire becomes active again.

Shedhorn Fire:

• Size: 75 acres
  
• Cause/Start Date: Under Investigation, reported Sept. 27, 2021 around 4:00 p.m.
  
• Personnel: about 50 firefighters
  
• Aircraft: 1 helicopter - A TFR (Temporary Flight Restriction is in place over the Shedhorn Fire. NO DRONES.
  
• Structures Threatened: No structures threatened at this time.
  
• Containment: 50%

Closures: An area closure is now in place around the Shedhorn Fire starting at the junction of Taylor Fork Road #134/135 (Cache Creek Road) and extending N to Deadhorse Creek. A small section of the Beaverhead–Deerlodge N.F. along Shedhorn Creek is also within the area closure. The closure follows Shedhorn Mountain south, including areas immediately along Shedhorn Creek continuing south to Koch Peak. Full closure map and language available online at www.fs.usda.gov/custergallatin (click closures). Forest Roads #134 and #135 will be closed past their junction. Forest Roads #136, #144, and #3107 will also be closed. Trails closed include: #17, #237, and #8 in sections 32 and section 5. The upper two sections of trail #6330 on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF will also be closed.

Weather/ Fuel Conditions: The weather continues getting warmer, drier, and windier through Tuesday with unsettled cooler and wetter weather beginning Wednesday.  Temperatures are expected to be in the mid-60s to mid-70s with humidity’s as low as 11%.  

Firefighters continue working on hot spots and flare ups
 
Big Sky, MT – October 3, 2021 — The Shedhorn Fire, located on the Custer Gallatin National Forest between Big Sky and West Yellowstone, Montana in Upper Tumbledown Creek area, was reported Monday afternoon around 4:00 p.m.

Crews continued putting out hot spots and mopping up the fire over the weekend.  A helicopter provided bucket drops to help cool down flare ups occurring in the interior of the fire.  These flare ups have the potential to spread embers outside of the fire line.  Fire managers continue developing contingency plans in the event the fire becomes active again

Shedhorn Fire:

• Size: 75 acres
  
• Cause/Start Date: Under Investigation, reported Sept. 27, 2021 around 4:00 p.m.
  
• Personnel: about 50 firefighters
  
• Aircraft: 1 helicopter
  
• A TFR (Temporary Flight Restriction) is in place over the Shedhorn Fire. NO DRONES.
• Structures Threatened: No structures threatened at this time.
  
• Containment: 40%

Closures: An area closure is now in place around the Shedhorn Fire starting at the junction of Taylor Fork Road #134/135 (Cache Creek Road) and extending N to Deadhorse Creek. A small section of the Beaverhead–Deerlodge N.F. along Shedhorn Creek is also within the area closure. The closure follows Shedhorn Mountain south, including areas immediately along Shedhorn Creek continuing south to Koch Peak. Full closure map and language available online at www.fs.usda.gov/custergallatin (click closures). Forest Roads #134 and #135 will be closed past their junction. Forest Roads #136, #144, and #3107 will also be closed. Trails closed include: #17, #237, and #8 in sections 32 and section 5. The upper two sections of trail #6330 on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF will also be closed.

 Weather/ Fuel Conditions: Each day the weather continues to get warmer and drier over the weekend.  Temperatures are expected to be in the mid-50s to mid-60s with humidity’s as low as 20%.   

Firefighters continue extinguishing hotspots
 
Big Sky, MT – October 2, 2021 — The Shedhorn Fire, located on the Custer Gallatin National Forest between Big Sky and West Yellowstone, Montana in Upper Tumbledown Creek area, was reported Monday afternoon around 4:00 p.m.

Shedhorn Fire:

• Size: 75 acres
  
• Cause/Start Date: Under Investigation, reported Sept. 27, 2021 around 4:00 p.m.
  
• Personnel: about 50 firefighters
  
• Aircraft: 1 helicopter.   A TFR (Temporary Flight Restriction is in place over the Shedhorn Fire. NO DRONES.
  Structures Threatened:
• Structures Threatened: No structures threatened at this time.
  
• Containment: 20%

 Firefighters on the Shedhorn Fire continue extinguishing hot spots and flare ups and cold trailing the fire’s perimeter.  Over the past couple days more than 190,000 gallons of water have aided firefighters in extinguishing hotspots.  Cold trailing is the process of feeling with the back of your hand along the fire’s perimeter to ensure all embers are put out.  Fire managers continue developing contingency plans in the event the fire becomes active again Closures: NO DRONES OVER WILDLAND FIRE PERIOD. IF YOU FLY, WE CAN’T An area closure is now in place around the Shedhorn Fire starting at the junction of Taylor Fork Road #134/135 (Cache Creek Road) and extending N to Deadhorse Creek. A small section of the Beaverhead–Deerlodge N.F. along Shedhorn Creek is also within the area closure. The closure follows Shedhorn Mountain south, including areas immediately along Shedhorn Creek continuing south to Koch Peak. Full closure map and language available online at www.fs.usda.gov/custergallatin (click closures). Forest Roads #134 and #135 will be closed past their junction. Forest Roads #136, #144, and #3107 will also be closed. Trails closed include: #17, #237, and #8 in sections 32 and section 5. The upper two sections of trail #6330 on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF will also be closed.

  

Progress Steady on 74-acre Shedhorn Fire

Warming and Drying Continues, Hunters, Recreationists Put Warming Fires Out

Big Sky, MT - September 30, 2021 — The Shedhorn Fire, located on the Custer Gallatin National Forest between Big Sky and West Yellowstone, Montana in Upper Tumbledown Creek area, was reported Monday afternoon around 4:00 p.m.

Shedhorn Fire:

Size: 74 acres

Cause/Start Date: Under Investigation, reported Sept. 27, 2021 around 4:00 p.m.

Personnel: 80 firefighters

Aircraft: 4 helicopters and air attack

A TFR (Temporary Flight Restriction is in place over the Shedhorn Fire. NO DRONES. Structures Threatened: No structures threatened at this time.

Containment: 0%

Firefighters on the Shedhorn Fire will continue to utilize air support early in the day mopping-up hot areas along the fire’s perimeter.  The fire burning primary in Subalpine Fir, created numerous small spot fires based on the way the Subalpine Fire type burns and torches.  Over the past couple days more than 190,000 gallons of water have aided firefighters in extinguishing hotshots. 

Some line is being establish along the northeastern flank of the fire and cold trailing is occurring, where you feel with the back of your hand along the entire perimeter of the fire to ensure all embers are put out.  Both of these tasks are extremely time intensive and manual, taking firefighters quite a bit of time to work around individual spots, but good progress continues to be made.  Helicopters are utilizing water sources close to the fire to ensure that no spread of aquatic invasive species occurs.

Closures: NO DRONES OVER WILDLAND FIRE PERIOD. IF YOU FLY, WE CAN’T

An area closure is now in place around the Shedhorn Fire starting at the junction of Taylor Fork Road #134/135 (Cache Creek Road) and extending N to Deadhorse Creek. A small section of the Beaverhead–Deerlodge N.F. along Shedhorn Creek is also within the area closure. The closure follows Shedhorn Mountain south, including areas immediately along Shedhorn Creek continuing south to Koch Peak. Full closure map and language available online at www.fs.usda.gov/custergallatin (click closures). Forest Roads #134 and #135 will be closed past their junction. Forest Roads #136, #144, and #3107 will also be closed. Trails closed include: #17, #237, and #8 in sections 32 and section 5.

The upper two sections of trail #6330 on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF will also be closed.

Weather/ Fuel Conditions: Each day the weather continues to get warmer and drier over the weekend with highs around 70-75.

  

Firefighters Continue Progress on 74-acre Shedhorn Fire

Warming and Drying Trend Continues into Weekend, Early Next Week  

Big Sky, MT - September 30, 2021 — The Shedhorn Fire, located on the Custer Gallatin National Forest between Big Sky and West Yellowstone, Montana in Upper Tumbledown Creek area, was reported Monday afternoon around 4:00 p.m. 

 

Shedhorn Fire:

Size:  74 acres

Cause/Start Date: Under Investigation, reported Sept. 27, 2021 around 4:00 p.m.

Personnel: 80 firefighters

Aircraft:  4 helicopters and air attack

A TFR (Temporary Flight Restriction is in place over the Shedhorn Fire.  NO DRONES.

Structures Threatened:  No structures threatened at this time.

Containment:  0%

 

A second day of cooler temperatures and mild winds allowed progress to be made on the Shedhorn Fire.  On Wednesday air support aided firefighters on the ground delivering more than 175,000 gallons of water to the Shedhorn Fire.  These bucket and snorkel drops of water from helicopters are helping to mop-up numerous hotspots from the fire burning in primary Subalpine Fuel type. 

 

“When the subalpine tree or fuel type touches it creates numerous fire brands or spots that often times don’t burn continuously and all individually then need to be mopped up creating what we call a “dirty” burn that is very manually intensive to ensure each ember is mopped up,” said Jay Fassett, Shedhorn Incident Commander.

 

Crews are also continuing to build direct handline where possible along the northeastern flank of the fire tying in with terrain features or cold trailing spot fires, where you feel with the back of your hand to ensure all embers are extinguished.  Helicopters are utilizing water sources close to the fire to ensure that no spread of aquatic invasive species occurs.

 

 

Closures:  NO DRONES OVER WILDLAND FIRE PERIOD.  IF YOU FLY, WE CAN’T

An area closure is now in place around the Shedhorn Fire starting at the junction of Taylor Fork Road #134/135 (Cache Creek Road) and extending N to Deadhorse Creek.  A small section of the Beaverhead–Deerlodge N.F. along Shedhorn Creek is also within the area closure.  The closure follows Shedhorn Mountain south, including areas immediately along Shedhorn Creek continuing south to Koch Peak.  Full closure map and language available online at www.fs.usda.gov/custergallatin (click closures).  Forest Roads #134 and #135 will be closed past their junction. Forest Roads #136, #144, and #3107 will also be closed.  Trails closed include: #17, #237, and #8 in sections 32 and section 5. The upper two sections of trail #6330 on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF will also be closed.

 

Weather/ Fuel Conditions:  Warming and drying continues through the weekend and into next week with highs around 70-75.

Warmer and Dryer Weather Conditions Anticipated
Big Sky, MT - September 30, 2021 a.m. — The Shedhorn Fire is located on the Custer Gallatin National Forest between Big Sky and West Yellowstone, Montana in Upper Tumbledown Creek area.

Shedhorn Fire:

• Size: 74 acres
  
• Cause/Start Date: Under Investigation, reported Sept. 27, 2021 around 4:00 p.m.
  
• Personnel: about 80 people
  
• Aircraft: 4 helicopters - A TFR (Temporary Flight Restriction is in place over the Shedhorn Fire. NO DRONES.
  
• Structures Threatened: No structures threatened at this time.
  
• Containment:  0%

Firefighters continue to make good progress, cold trailing and putting out hotspots.  Aviation assets were able to deliver more than 175,000 gallons of water to the fire to help ground crews.  Helicopters are utilizing water sources close to the fire to ensure that no spread of aquatic invasive species occurs.

Weather/ Fuel Conditions: Today begins a warming and drying trend anticipated to last through mid-next week.  High temperatures are expected in the mid-60s today with winds 5-15 mph.  Lower humidity levels are also anticipated.