Firefighters make progress on state’s largest fire, scenic byway closed

Several large fires are burning in southwestern Montana, though cooler temperatures and precipitation have helped crews make progress on the blazes.

Southwestern portions of the state have dealt with significant wildfire activity during the past month and several large fires are burning in Ravalli, Beaverhead and Granite counties.

The approximately 33,000 acre Sand Creek fire is the state’s largest, burning about 7.5 miles southeast of Wisdom. The Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway is currently closed and firefighters are planning to make use of it as a shaded fire break, which a press release from fire managers said involves cutting some trees and leaving others.

The shaded fire break will also serve as a control line between the Sand Creek Fire and the Bobcat Fire, an approximately 10,000-acre wildfire burning just miles away. The Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 1 is managing both blazes jointly.

“The western fire edge is irregular, with areas of heat and pockets of thick, dead and downed timber that limit safe access. Indirect line construction continues from Clemow Cow Camp east to the Old Tim Creek area,” a fire press release said. “Crews attempted a strategic burnout north of this line yesterday, but gusty winds paused the operation; ignition work in this large, unburned area will resume today as weather allows. Bringing the fire edge out to these established lines and securing them will help protect private property to the south and west of the fire area.”

There were 660 personnel listed on those fires, which a press release said has access to aerial firefighting resources.The two blazes have cost about $30 million combined to fight, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Four structures have been lost in the Sand Creek fire.

The Sand Creek fire was listed at 11% containment on Friday, with the Bobcat fire at 40%.

Firefighters are working to protect private property threatened by the Sand Creek fire, a release said. The weather has also been favorable.

“Fire activity will be moderated by cloud cover and humidity levels, but gusty winds may push the fire in exposed areas,” a Sand Creek fire press release said.

The Moose Fire, burning 24 miles northwest of Philipsburg in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, was listed at slightly less than 6,000 acres on Friday.

Weather was a far greater concern on that wildfire.

“Warming and drying conditions will bring elevated fire weather concerns today,” a release from the Moose fire said, adding that, “Fire activity has started to slowly pick up.”

There were 107 personnel listed as working on that fire, which started in late July and is about 10% contained.

National Weather Service maps show increased chances for some parts of Montana to see rain headed into the weekend.

Another larger fire, the Camp Creek Fire, has burned approximately 8,000 acres deep within the Bob Marshall Wilderness and is currently about 40 miles west of Augusta. About a dozen personnel are on that fire, which is expected to head into even more remote sections of the Bob Marshall Wilderness.