Montana Fires Slowing Down After This Week’s Weather
Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - Montana wildfire lines are holding on this summer's major blazes, as we head into Labor Day Weekend.
In the West Pioneers, the Sand Creek Fire is now just over 35-thousand acres, but containment is also up, reaching 21%.
Operations Section Chief Greg Shenk says lines along what was the fire's dangerous southern edge are doing their job.
"We do not anticipate any southerly or westerly progression of the fire," Shenk said in the Thursday briefing. "Crews are continuing to mop up and secure the edge, all the way from Jerked Prairie, down."
Containment on the Bobcat Lakes Fire to the north is now up to 61%. The Pioneer Scenic Byway remains closed.
Rains helping with Bitterroot Fires
The cooler, wetter weather is also helping on the 1,400-acre Nature Grove Fire in the Bitterroot, although slick conditions have made it difficult for firefighters, who are continuing to build lines by hand and with heavy equipment.
The Skalkaho Highway remains open, but with pilot cars and delays up to 20 minutes.
New fire starts in Eastern Montana
There are nine new fire starts across the state here at the end of the week. There's no containment on the 2900 acre Snow Fire, east of Miles City, and the 565-acre Ayers Pond Fire burning northeast of there, but no structures have been threatened.
The Corney Coolee Fire started yesterday north of Forsyth and has burned 400 acres but hasn't endangered any buildings.
Looking Back at One of Montana's Most Explosive Fires
Gallery Credit: Dennis Bragg
