Bridger Foothills Fire Morning Update

September 11, 2020 - 9:00 am

Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team - Dan Dallas, Incident Commander

Information Center: 406-219-7052 (8:00 am to 8:00 pm)

Media Inquiries: 406-219-7136

InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7144/       Email: 2020.bridgerfoothills@firenet.gov

Bridger Foothills Fire Story Map: https://arcg.is/1eqjm0

Current Situation: The fire is 8,224 acres with 68% containment. There are still isolated pockets of heat throughout portions of the fire area. Residents can expect to see occasional smoke in interior portions of the fire until more precipitation arrives. The most concentrated areas of heat are along the northern and western edges of the fire where crews continue to work. Given weather conditions today, the most active burning period will start around noon. The south flank, much of the east flank, some of the north flank, the large spot near Jackson Creek Road, and the west flank to the forest boundary are contained. Today’s fire suppression activity: crews will continue to build line on the north flank near the Division D/Division H break. Helicopters will use water drops to cool spots on the north flank. The timber taskforce (a team of skilled logging equipment operators who, under direction of fire operations staff, removes trees to make a fuel break) continues to establish a contingency line in heavily timbered areas directly north of the fire. Crews are hot-spotting, cold-trailing, and building handline along the west and south flanks and checking and re-checking around structures on the east flank.

   
Weather & Fuel Conditions: Generally quiet weather at the fire site will continue today. Today will be sunny with temperatures in the upper 60s to lower 70s. Fair humidity recovery again tonight will result in any active burning tapering off quickly. Hot and dry conditions are expected through the weekend.

Evacuations and Closures:  Bridger Canyon Road remains closed to the public from Boylan Road to Brackett Creek. This includes bikers and runners. The section of road is open for residents only. Effective Friday, September 11 at 10 AM, Bridger Canyon Road will open for service providers that are requested by residents, such as contactors, construction crews, insurance personnel and trash companies. Residents and others should stay off the roads from 7 AM to 10 AM, and from 6 PM to 8 PM to allow fire crews to travel.

For further details on these openings see the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/gallatincountysheriffsoffice/ or https://www.gallatinmedia.org/

The area closure and maps for the Custer Gallatin National Forest is listed on the Forest Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/CusterGallatinNationalForest/) and on InciWeb (https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7144/).

It is important to remember that the area is closed to all human entry, including the roads and trails within the closure area. The Custer Gallatin Forest is re-evaluating the closure daily and will adjust the boundaries as soon as it is safe to do so.

Bridger Foothills Fire Statistics:

Size: 8,224 acres

Containment: 68%

Total Personnel: approximately 361 

Location: NE of Bozeman, approx. 2.5 miles up from M parking lot, near the Bridger Foothills trail

Reported: September 4, 2020

Cause: Under investigation

Resources Include: Air resources include 2 medium helicopters and 1 light helicopter. Other personnel and equipment include 3 Interagency Hotshot (Type 1) hand crews, 8 Type 2 hand crews, 22 engines, 4 water tender, and 3 dozers.

Bridger Foothills Fire Evening Update

September 10, 2020 - 9:00 pm

Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team - Dan Dallas, Incident Commander

Information Center: 406-219-7052 (8:00 am to 8:00 pm)

Media Inquiries: 406-219-7136

InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7144/       Email: 2020.bridgerfoothills@firenet.gov

Bridger Foothills Fire Story Map: https://arcg.is/1eqjm0

Special Notes:  Gallatin County, Montana DNRC, Custer Gallatin National Forest, and the Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team continue their strong partnership in suppressing this wildfire and assisting residents affected by the fire.

   
Weather & Fuel Conditions: Fire behavior was limited today but could increase Friday and Saturday as fuels dry out. Temperatures rose into the low 70s this afternoon with relative humidity around 30%. Temperatures will drop into the mid to lower 40s tonight with good humidity recoveries around 60%. Friday is forecasted to be warmer and dryer with humidity dropping into the teens. Hot and dry conditions are expected through the weekend.

Evacuations and Closures:  Bridger Canyon Road remains closed to the public from Boylan Road to Brackett Creek. This includes bikers and runners. The section of road is open for residents only. Effective Friday, September 11 at 10 AM, Bridger Canyon Road will open for service providers that are requested by residents, such as contactors, construction crews, insurance personnel and trash companies. Residents and others should stay off the roads from 7 AM to 10 AM, and from 6 PM to 8 PM to allow fire crews to travel.

 For further details on these openings see the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/gallatincountysheriffsoffice/ or https://www.gallatinmedia.org/

 The area closure and maps for the Custer Gallatin National Forest is listed on the Forest Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/CusterGallatinNationalForest/) and on InciWeb (https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7144/).

Bridger Foothills Fire Statistics:

Size: 8,224 acres

Containment: 68%

Total Personnel: approximately 361 

Location: NE of Bozeman, approx. 2.5 miles up from M parking lot, near the Bridger Foothills trail

Reported: September 4, 2020

Cause: Under investigation

Resources Include: Air resources include 2 medium helicopters and 1 light helicopter. Other personnel and equipment include 3 Interagency Hotshot (Type 1) hand crews, 8 Type 2 hand crews, 22 engines, 4 water tender, and 3 dozers.

Bridger Foothills Fire Morning Update

September 10, 2020 - 9:08 am

Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team - Dan Dallas, Incident Commander

Information Center: 406-219-7052 (8:00 am to 8:00 pm)

Media Inquiries: 406-219-7136

InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7144/       Email: 2020.bridgerfoothills@firenet.gov

Bridger Foothills Fire Story Map: https://arcg.is/1eqjm0

Special Notes: Bridger Canyon Drive from Boylan Road to Brackett Creek Road is closed to the public. This includes bikers and runners. Effective today at 10 am, the entire Bridger Canyon Road will be open FOR RESIDENTS ONLY. Residents should stay off the roads from 7 am to 10 am, and from 6 pm to 8 pm, to allow for fire crews to travel the roads. See https://www.gallatinmedia.org/ for more information.

Gallatin County, Montana DNRC, Custer Gallatin National Forest, and the Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team continue their strong partnership in suppressing this wildfire and assisting residents affected by the fire. 

REMINDER: Please do not fly drones near the Bridger Foothills Fire. If you fly your drone it can shut down all air operations on the fire. We ask that you respect this rule so we can ensure all firefighting activities are carried out safely and effectively. 

Weather & Fuel Conditions: Fire behavior will be limited today but may see an increase through Friday and Saturday as fuels dry out. Additional smokes may pop up and become visible today. Temperatures will rise into the high 60s this afternoon with relative humidity in the mid-20% range. Continued warming and drying will occur ahead of a weak cold front that will cross the fire area Monday with breezy north/northwest winds. The weekend looks to be warm and dry with afternoon humidity in the upper teens and less than 20% chance of rain.

Evacuations and Closures: Additional changes in evacuations and road closures are expected to occur at 10:00 a.m. today. For further details on these openings see the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/gallatincountysheriffsoffice/ or https://www.gallatinmedia.org/

The area closure and maps for the Custer Gallatin National Forest is listed on the Forest Facebook page and on InciWeb at:

https://www.facebook.com/CusterGallatinNationalForest/

https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7144/

It is important to remember that the area is closed to all human entry, including the roads and trails within the closure area. The Custer Gallatin Forest is re-evaluating the closure daily and will adjust the boundaries as soon as it is safe to do so.

Bridger Foothills Fire Statistics:

Size: 8,224 acres

Containment: 52%

Total Personnel: approximately 337 

Location: NE of Bozeman, approx. 2.5 miles up from M parking lot, near the Bridger Foothills trail

Reported: September 4, 2020

Cause: Under investigation

Resources Include: Air resources include 3 medium helicopters and 1 light helicopter. Other personnel and equipment include 3 Interagency Hotshot (Type 1) hand crews, 8 Type 2 hand crews, 20 engines, 1 water tender, and 3 dozers.

Bridger Foothills Fire Evening Update

September 9, 2020 - 9:08 p.m.

Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team - Dan Dallas, Incident Commander

Information Center: 406-219-7052 (8:00 am to 8:00 pm)

Media Inquiries: 406-219-7136

InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7144/       Email: 2020.bridgerfoothills@firenet.gov

Bridger Foothills Fire Story Map: https://arcg.is/1eqjm0

REMINDER: Please do not fly drones near the Bridger Foothills Fire. If you fly your drone it can shut down all air operations on the fire. We ask that you respect this rule so we can ensure all firefighting activities are carried out safely and effectively. 



Current Situation: Cool nighttime temperatures and recent precipitation have limited fire spread. Acreage increased to 8,224 acres today due to more accurate mapping. Containment increased to 52%. Today’s fire suppression activity: on the southwest side of the fire in Division A, crews were inserted by air and will spike out along the fire perimeter; they began securing the fire’s edge to the north. In Division D (west side of the fire) crews flew to Baldy Mountain and began building direct handline towards the south. Division Y and the Structure Group worked from the Bridger Canyon Fire station to the Beasley Creek Road checking and securing structures and conducting hazard mitigation. In Division H (east and north side of the fire), crews were hot-spotting, cold-trailing, and building handline. On the north side firefighters continued to scout opportunities for direct line construction. Crews will continue to build hand and dozer lines over the next 2-3 days. A timber taskforce assessed potential for fuel break construction in heavily timbered areas directly north of the fire. 

Evacuations and Closures: Additional changes in evacuations and road closures are expected to occur at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow.The area south of DP30 (the intersection of Jackson Creek and Bridger Canyon roads) is going to be reopened and repopulated starting at 10am today. For further details on these openings see the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/gallatincountysheriffsoffice/ or https://www.gallatinmedia.org/

The area closure for the Custer Gallatin National Forest is listed on the Forest Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CusterGallatinNationalForest/.

Bridger Foothills Fire Statistics:

Size: 8,224 acres

Containment: 52%

Total Personnel: approximately 337 

Location: NE of Bozeman, approx. 2.5 miles up from M parking lot, near the Bridger Foothills trail

Reported: September 4, 2020

Cause: Under investigation

Resources Include: Air resources include 2 incident helicopters and 2 shared T1 helicopters if needed. Other personnel and equipment include 3 Interagency Hotshot (Type 1) hand crews, 8 Type 2 hand crews, 20 engines, 1 water tender, and 3 dozers. 

Bridger Foothills Fire Morning Update

September 9, 2020 - 8:30 a.m.

Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team - Dan Dallas, Incident Commander

Information Center: 406-219-7052 (8:00 am to 8:00 pm)

Media Inquiries: 406-219-7136

InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7144/       Email: 2020.bridgerfoothills@firenet.gov

Bridger Foothills Fire Story Map: https://arcg.is/1eqjm0

Special Notes: The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office will hold a “Relief, Recovery, and Support Day” for those directly impacted by the fire at Gallatin County Fairgrounds on Wednesday, Sept. 9 from 8:30 am to 6:30 pm. For further information see https://www.facebook.com/events/259439328430126.

The Gallatin County Sheriff will allow residents to return to their homes in the area south of DP30 (the intersection of Jackson Creek and Bridger Canyon roads) at 10am today. Note that the speed limit on Bridger Canyon Rd. is 35mph. It is signed and patrolled. Residents should expect to see smoke and interior burning for some time. Further details for returning residents can be found here: https://www.gallatinmedia.org/

Gallatin County, Montana DNRC, Custer Gallatin National Forest, and the Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team continue with their strong partnership efforts in suppressing this wildfire and assisting residents affected by the fire.

Current Situation: The wet conditions yesterday allowed firefighters to make significant progress on securing the fire edge. Containment remains at 0% but should increase rapidly over the next few days.

On the southwest side of the fire in Division A, crews will be inserted by air and spike out along the fire perimeter; they will begin securing the fire’s edge to the north. In Division D (west side of the fire) crews will fly into Baldy Mountain to begin building direct handline towards the south with plans to meet up with crews from Division A. Division Y and the Structure Group will be working from the Bridger Canyon Fire station to the Beasely Creek Road checking and securing structures
and conducting hazard mitigation. In Division H (east and north side of the fire), crews will be hot-spotting, cold-trailing, and building handline as needed. On the north side of the fire firefighters will continue to scout opportunities for direct line construction around the “fingers” and “horseshoe” in the fire perimeter. Hand and dozer lines were started yesterday and will continue over the next 3-4 days.

A radio repeater was flown to Baldy Mountain yesterday to enhance communications for crews working the west side of the fire in coming days.

The Gallatin County Sheriff announced at yesterday evening’s virtual public meeting that 28 residences and an unknown number of outbuildings have been damaged or destroyed in the fire. Follow-up and support to homeowners will
continue as needed.

Weather & Fuel Conditions: Fire behavior will be very limited on the fire today. Last night’s temperatures dropped into the mid-20s to low-30s. Temperatures today will reach highs of 49-55 degrees with minimum humidity at 29-34%.
NE winds at 3-7 mph in the morning will shift to upslope/up-valley in the afternoon but stay under 10mph. Burning conditions, including potential spread, will be slightly lower for the next two days. Heavy fuels will continue to smoke but spread through fine fuels will be limited. Conditions will continue to be very favorable for mop-up today. A gradual warming and drying trend will continue through the remainder of the week with generally light winds. Temperatures will warm into
the 80s by Saturday with 90s possible early next week. 
 

Despite the precipitation over the fire area, heavy fuels remain dry inside and continue to burn. Light fuels will dry quickly as the warming trend continues.

Evacuations and Warnings: The area south of DP30 (the intersection of Jackson Creek and Bridger Canyon roads) is going to be reopened and repopulated starting at 10am today. Note that the speed limit is 35mph. It is signed and patrolled. For further details on these openings see the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/gallatincountysheriffsoffice/ or https://www.gallatinmedia.org/

Closures:  As of 10:00 a.m. today, there will be changes in the road closures for Bridger Canyon Road and Jackson Creek Road. For details on these closures see this link: https://www.gallatinmedia.org/. Bridger Canyon Drive Boylan to Brackett Creek Road is closed to the public and Bridger Canyon Drive from Boylan to Jackson Creek Road is open to residents only. The area closure for the Custer Gallatin National Forest is listed on the Forest Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CusterGallatinNationalForest/.

Bridger Foothills Fire Statistics:

Size: approximately 7,138 acres

Containment: 0%

Total Personnel: approximately 300

Location: NE of Bozeman, approx. 2.5 miles up from M parking lot, near the Bridger Foothills trail

Reported: September 4, 2020

Cause: Under investigation

Resources Include: Air resources include 2 incident helicopters and 3 shared T1 helicopters if needed. Other personnel and equipment include 2 Interagency Hotshot (Type 1) hand crews, 9 Type 2 hand crews, 13 engines, 3 water tenders, and 2 dozers. Additional resources are on order.

Bridger Foothills Fire Evening Update

September 8, 2020 – 8:00 p.m.     

Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team - Dan Dallas, Incident Commander

Information Center: 406-219-7052 (8:00 am to 8:00 pm)

Media Inquiries: 406-219-7136

InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7144/       Email: 2020.bridgerfoothills@firenet.gov

Bridger Foothills Fire Story Map: https://arcg.is/1eqjm0

Special Notes: The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office will hold a “Relief, Recovery, and Support Day” for those directly impacted by the fire at Gallatin County Fairgrounds on Wednesday, Sept. 9 from 8:30 am to 6:30 pm. For further information see https://www.facebook.com/events/259439328430126.

Gallatin County, Montana DNRC, Custer Gallatin National Forest, and the Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team continue with their strong partnership efforts in suppressing this wildfire and assisting residents affected by the fire.

Current Situation: The wet conditions today allowed firefighters to make significant progress on securing the fire edge. Expect to see containment increasing by as early as tomorrow.

On the southern and eastern sides of the fire, in Divisions A, Y, and H, crews hot-spotted, cold-trailed, and built handline while structure protection forces worked to further secure private property from additional fire damage. On the north side of the fire, also Division H, firefighters scouted opportunities for direct line construction around the “fingers” and “horseshoe” in the fire perimeter. These areas will be secured with hand and dozer line over the next 3-4 days. In Division D on the west side of the fire, plans are in place to fly crews into Baldy Mountain to begin building direct handline towards the south and into H-1 to begin building line to the north.

A radio repeater was flown to Baldy Mountain today to enhance communications for crews working the west side of the fire in coming days.

The Gallatin County Sheriff announced at this evening’s virtual public meeting that 28 residences and an unknown number of outbuildings have been damaged or destroyed in the fire. Follow-up and support to homeowners will continue as needed.

Weather & Fuel Conditions: Tonight’s temperatures will be in the mid-20s. Humidity recovery will be upper 50s to lower 60s percent. Tomorrow will reach a high of 55 degrees with RH of 29 percent and NW winds at 3-7 mph. A warming, drying trend will continue throughout the week. Despite the precipitation over the fire area, heavy fuels remain dry inside and continue to burn. Light fuels will dry quickly as the warming trend continues.

Evacuations and Warnings:  As of 10:00 a.m. tomorrow, some residents in the Bridger Canyon Road and Jackson Creek Road areas will be allowed to return to their homes. For further details on these openings see the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/gallatincountysheriffsoffice/  or https://www.gallatinmedia.org/

Closures:  As of 10:00 a.m. tomorrow, there will be changes in the road closures for Bridger Canyon Road and Jackson Creek Road. For details on these closures see this link: https://www.gallatinmedia.org/

The area closure for the Custer Gallatin National Forest is listed on the Forest Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CusterGallatinNationalForest/.

Bridger Foothills Fire Statistics:

Size: approximately 7,138 acres

Containment: 0%

Total Personnel: approximately 300

Location: NE of Bozeman, approx. 2.5 miles up from M parking lot, near the Bridger Foothills trail

Reported: September 4, 2020

Cause: Under investigation

Resources Include: Air resources, including single engine air tankers (SEATs,) 6 helicopters, 2 Interagency Hotshot (Type 1) hand crews, 8 Type 2 hand crews, 15 engines, 3 water tenders, and 3 dozers.  Many additional resources are on order.

A Story Map with several useful utilities is now available for the Bridger Foothills Fire.
https://arcg.is/1eqjm0

Bridger Foothills Fire Morning Update

September 8, 2020 – 9:00 a.m.     

Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team - Dan Dallas, Incident Commander

Information Center: 406-219-7052 (8:00 am to 8:00 pm)

Media Inquiries: 406-219-7136

InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7144/       

Email: 2020.bridgerfoothills@firenet.gov

Special Notes: There will be a virtual public fire information meeting this evening Sept. 8 at 6:00 pm. The meeting will be livestreamed on the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Facebook page and the Custer Gallatin National Forest Facebook page. For those without Facebook, the meeting can be viewed via Zoom at this link: https://usfs.zoomgov.com/j/1612208600 and Passcode 536817.  An update on the status of the fire and evacuations will be provided by Incident Management Team members, Montana DNRC, Gallatin County Sheriff, and Custer-Gallatin National Forest officials who are all working in close coordination on fire suppression.

The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office will hold a “Relief, Recovery, and Support Day” for those directly impacted by the fire at Gallatin County Fairgrounds on Wednesday, Sept. 9 from 8:30 am to 6:30 pm. For further information see https://www.facebook.com/events/259439328430126.

Current Situation: Due to yesterday’s precipitation, fire behavior is expected to be minimal today. Firefighting crews and structure protection personnel will focus their efforts on the lower elevations of the fire in Divisions A, H, and Y. They will secure the fire perimeter in these areas and take precautions to ensure that fire does not further encroach on any structures. In the western portion of Division H, personnel will scout for opportunities to build direct hand and dozer lines to prevent further fire spread to the north. In Division D at the upper elevations of the fire, aerial reconnaissance will be used to locate future helispots for inserting hand crews and a spike camp. These crews will be used in coming days to secure the western edge of the fire. As always, safety remains our highest priority, so firefighters will be especially cognizant today of slick roads and slippery footing.

The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, Bridger Canyon Fire Chief, and structure protection personnel will continue assessments of structures impacted by the fire on Saturday. Follow-up with homeowners will be accomplished as soon as possible. 

Weather & Fuel Conditions:  This morning, the entire fire area is snow-covered, with amounts ranging from a trace at lower elevations to 6-8 inches higher up. Fire behavior will be minimal today. Skies will be slowly clearing throughout the day, beginning a warming and drying trend that will continue throughout the week. High temperatures today will be 44-48 degrees with a relative humidity of 37-45 percent. Winds will be E 5-7 mph with gusts to 12 mph on ridgetops. Tonight’s temperatures will be 22-30 degrees in the valleys and 7-27 degrees above 7,000 feet. Humidity recovery will be 53-58 percent and nighttime winds will be E 5-10 mph gusting to 20 mph on ridges. Despite the precipitation, heavy fuels remain dry inside and continue to burn. Light fuels will dry quickly as the warming trend continues.

Evacuations and Warnings:   Several neighborhoods are in evacuation or evacuation warning status. Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office is coordinating allowing residents briefly back into their homes at specific times and for specific needs. For the latest information on evacuations see the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/gallatincountysheriffsoffice/.

Closures:  Hwy 86/Bridger Canyon Road is closed from Brass Lantern Court to Brackett Creek Rd. The Kelly Canyon road closure has been moved from I-90 to the intersection of Bridger Canyon Road. The Jackson Creak road closure has been moved from I-90 to the intersection of Jackson Creek Road and Laughing Horse Lane. The area closure for the Custer-Gallatin National Forest is listed on the Forest Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CusterGallatinNationalForest/.

Bridger Foothills Fire Statistics:

Size: approximately 7,138 acres

Containment: 0%

Total Personnel: approximately 300

Location: NE of Bozeman, approx. 2.5 miles up from M parking lot, near the Bridger Foothills trail

Reported: September 4, 2020

Cause: Under investigation

Resources Include: Air resources, including single engine air tankers (SEATs,) 6 helicopters, 2 Interagency Hotshot (Type 1) hand crews, 8 Type 2 hand crews, 15 engines, 3 water tenders, and 3 dozers.  Many additional resources are on order.

Bridger Foothills Fire Evening Update

September 7, 2020 – 8:00 p.m.    

Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team - Dan Dallas, Incident Commander

Information Center: 406-219-7052        

Media Inquiries: 406-219-7136

InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7144/       

Email: 2020.bridgerfoothills@firenet.gov

Special Notes: The Rocky Mountain Area Type 1 Incident Management Team assumed command of the fire at 6:00 am this morning. Team members are primarily from Colorado, Wyoming, and South Dakota.

There will be a virtual public fire information meeting Tuesday evening Sept. 8 at 6:00 pm. Details for accessing the meeting will be provided tomorrow.

The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office and US Forest Service will be holding a “Relief, Recovery, and Support Day” for those directly impacted by the fire at Gallatin County Fairgrounds on Wednesday, Sept. 9 from 8:30 am to 6:30 pm.

Current Situation:   Minimal fire activity occurred on Monday due to cooler temperatures and precipitation.  Crews began cold trailing and building fireline as needed around the spots on the eastern side of the fire. At the southwest corner of the fire, crews are constructing handline to the north. Locations for hand and dozer line are being scouted on the northern side of the fire.

The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, assisted by the Structure Protection Group, is conducting assessments of structures impacted by the fire on Saturday. Follow-up with homeowners will be accomplished as soon as possible. Structure protection measures are being focused on preventing reburn around homes and other buildings.

Firefighters will continue to secure the heel of the fire at the southwest corner and proceed north along the flank of the fire from this anchor point.  Heavy equipment and air support will be utilized as needed to continue to secure line and to mop-up around the fire perimeter. 

Weather & Fuel Conditions:  Significantly cooler temperatures reduced fire behavior today. Rain and snow have been observed over portions of the fire area. A mix of rain/snow is expected to continue tonight. Overnight temperatures are expected to dip to below 30 degrees and the area could experience its first hard frost of the season. The outlook is for a warming trend later in the week.

Evacuations and Warnings:   Several neighborhoods are in evacuation or evacuation warning status. Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office is coordinating allowing residents briefly back into their homes at specific times and for specific needs. For the latest information on evacuations see the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/gallatincountysheriffsoffice/ .

Closures:  Hwy 86/Bridger Canyon Road is closed from Jackson Creek Rd. to Brackett Creek Rd. The Kelly Canyon road closure has been moved from I-90 to the intersection of Bridger Canyon Road. The Jackson Creak road closure has been moved from I-90 to the intersection of Jackson Creek Road and Laughing Horse Lane. The area closure for the Custer-Gallatin National Forest are listed on the Forest Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CusterGallatinNationalForest/.

Bridger Foothills Fire Statistics:

Size: approximately 7,140 acres

Containment: 0%

Total Personnel: 160

Location: NE of Bozeman, approx. 2.5 miles up from M parking lot, near the Bridger Foothills trail

Reported: September 4, 2020

Cause: Under investigation

Resources Include: Air resources, including single engine air tankers (SEATs,) 7 helicopters, Midnight Sun and Idaho Panhandle Interagency Hotshot crews, smokejumpers, 4 Type 2 handcrews, 11 engines, 4 water tenders and 2 dozers.  Many additional resources are on order.