For daily updates through email contact the number above.

WHAT:                                     Wildland Fire

DATE OF DETECTION:             August 29, 2020

CAUSE:                                    Lightning           

CURRENT SIZE:                        2,354 acres

CONTAINMENT:                     0%

LOCATION                               Approximately 16 miles NE of Whitehall, 2 miles NE of Whitetail Reservoir

JURISDICTION:                        Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest

PERSONNEL AND RESOURCES OF THE FIRE: 1 Type 2 Crew from Oregon, 1 (10 person) Crew from the Kootenai National Forest, 1 (9 person) Smokejumper Module from West Yellowstone, 1 Water Tender, 1 Type 3 Engine from Jefferson County,  3 Forest Service Type 6 Engines and miscellaneous overhead totaling 70 personnel.

NARRATIVE:  The State Creek Fire was caused by lightning  on August 25th and went undetected until Saturday, August 29th.  This fire is located on the Butte Ranger District and currently is 2,354 acres in an area difficult for firefighters to access due to rough terrain, numerous snags, and a significant amount of dead and down trees.

YESTERDAY’S ACTIVITY: Yesterday’s cold front brought lower temperatures and some moisture to the fire.  Crews patrolled the indirect lines around the fire and re-enforced them as necessary.

TODAY’S WEATHER/FIRE BEHAVIOR:  Today will be sunny and clear with highs in the low 50’s.  North to northwest winds will be 6-9 mph.  Tonight’s lows will be near 26°.  The fire behavior will be low after yesterday’s moisture, low temperatures and high humidity.

SPECIAL CONCERNS & CLOSURES:  Public and firefighters safety is always the primary concern . The Forest Service issued  a new closure order  effective September 6, 2020.  Pleae check InciWeb for the current order if recreating in the area.  Smoke may be visible from Whitehall, Boulder, 1-90 and 1-15.

For more information, visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7142

 or follow the Forest on Facebook at www.facebook.com/usfsbdnf or Twitter https://twitter.com/BvrhdDrldgeNF/

The Forest Service issued a new closure order effective September 6, 2020 for the State Creek Fire.  To view map, click on Maps tab.

For more information click on the Map Tab.

FIRE UPDATE

State Creek Fire

September 5, 2020  

Contact:  State Creek Fire Information 406-356-6521 (New phone number)

WHAT:                                     Wildland Fire

DATE OF DETECTION:             August 29, 2020

CAUSE:                                    Lightning        

CURRENT SIZE:                        70 acres

CONTAINMENT:                     0%

LOCATION                               Approximately 16 miles NE of Whitehall, 2 miles NE of Whitetail Reservoir

JURISDICTION:                        Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest

COOPERATING AGENCIES:     Jefferson County, BLM, Montana DNRC

PERSONNEL AND RESOURCES OF THE FIRE: 1 Type 2 Crew from Oregon, 1 (10 person) Crew from the Kootenai National Forest, 1 Water Tender, 1 Type 3 Engine from Jefferson County, 1 (9 person) Smokejumper Module from West Yellowstone,  2 Forest Service Type 6 Engines, 1 Forest Service Type 3 Engine, and miscellaneous overhead totaling about 67 personnel.

NARRATIVE:  The State Creek Fire was caused by lightning  on August 25th and went undetected until Saturday, August 29th.  This fire is located on the Butte Ranger District and currently is 70 acres in an area difficult for firefighters to access due to rough terrain, numerous snags, and a significant amount of dead and down trees.

YESTERDAY’S ACTIVITY:  Crews completed most of the indirect line to create fuel breaks along roads and private property.

TODAY’S WEATHER/FIRE BEHAVIOR: A Red Flag Warning has been issued for today starting at 1:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. tonight. This will produce high temperatures, low humidity, and some gusty winds. With the predicted weather the fire could become slightly more active making smoke visible from the Whitetail Road.

SPECIAL CONCERNS & CLOSURES:   Public and firefighters safety is always the primary concern. Closure orders have been issued by the  Forest Service and Burueau of Land Management closing the area, including roads and trails, near the fire.

For more information about this fire and other fires across the country, go oline to http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/.

State Creek Fire

September 3, 2020  8:00 P.M.

Contact:  Butte Ranger District 406-494-2147

What:                         Wildland Fire

Detected:                   August 29, 2020

Cause:                        Lightning       

Current Size:             Approximately 40 acres

Containment:           0%

Resources on Fire: 1 Type 2 Crew from Oregon, 1 10 person Crew from the Kootenai National Forest, 1 Water Tender and 1 Engine from Jefferson County, 1 Smokejumper module from West Yellowstone,  2 Forest Service Type 6 Engines and miscelleaneous overhead totaling about 50 personnel.

Location: Approximately 2 miles NE of Whitetail Resevoir

Narrative: Fire officials from the Butte Ranger District of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest responded to a new fire start near State Creek over this past weekend. The fire was caused by a lightning strike on August 25th and went undetected until Saturday, August 29th.

After yesterday’s gusty winds the fire grew to about 40 acres in an area difficult for firefighters to access due to rough terrain, numerous snags, and a significant amount of dead and down trees. Firefighters were initially on-site but had to disengage due to safety concerns after several burning snags fell. A helicopter dropped several buckets of water to try and hold the fire in check. Currently crews are implementing indirect line to create fuel breaks along roads and private inholdings.  The fuels breaks are in preparation for any possible spread of the fire.   According to Jan Bowey, Acting Butte District Ranger, “The State Creek Fire may be with us until we have a season-ending event. We are hopeful indirect line, additional fire personnel and the assistance of Jefferson County will protect private property that may be in the fire’s path.” The weather will continue to warm and dry with potential for gusty winds. Smoke is visible from the Whitetail Road and may be visible from Whitehall.

Safety Concerns:  Safety of the public and firefighters is always a primary concern.

Closures:  There are no closures in the area at this time.  However, if fire activity increases with predicted warmer temperatures, an are closure may be necessary.  Please monitor InciWeb over the holiday weekend if you plan to be in the area.

For more information about this fire and other fires across the country, go online to http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/.

The Pierce Fire is in monitor status by the local fire department.

Pierce Fire: estimated 170 acres
Location: approximately 8 miles southwest of Sanderson, Texas

The Pierce Fire is estimated 170 acres and being monitored by locals.  

Sotol Mitchell Fire: 69 acres, 100% contained
Location: approximately 15 miles north of Sanderson, Texas

The Sotol Mitchell Fire is 100% contained and has been turned back over to the local fire department to monitor.