The Inciweb Information Incident System recorded wildfire activity around Montana throughout the weekend.
The Elmo Fire has remained at over 21,000 acres and reached 70% containment. Information from Northern Rockies Incident Management Team 7 says crews are working to strengthen fire lines in all areas. They are digging out burning tree stumps and roots to increase containment. A group will be dedicated to responding to new fire starts in the area.
As of Wednesday, evacuation orders remain for Camp Tuffit and West Shore Road. Speed limits on Lake Mary Ronan Raod have a reduced speed of 35 mph. The CSKT, Flathead Reservation, and Lake County remain under stage 1 fire restrictions. The weather in the area is expected to be hot and dry next week; no precipitation is expected. Updates on the fire will be generated as needed.
The Cannon Fire was discovered on Aug. 7 in the Flathead National Forest and has burned 300 acres of land. The cause was from a lightning strike and is expected to be contained by Oct. 31. Significant fire history in the area is affecting the fire spread. A second fire was detected in the area and is named the Highrock Fire. The Spotted Bear Ranger District will monitor both wildland fires.
The Hog Trough Fire is a little over 830 acres and is 70% contained. Crews are working on the southwest side of the fire to improve and build fuel breaks. Ways to engage directly with the fire from the north and east sides of the fire are being looked into. Weather in the area is predicted to be warmer, dry, and breezy later in the week and could result in elevated fire behavior. Fortunately, limited fire growth has happened in the area. Resources are readily available to respond to any new fire from lightning strikes. All areas of the Bitterroot National Forest in Montana are under stage two fire restrictions, with four trail closures in the area.
The Deep Draw Fire was detected Friday evening, burning in rugged terrain west of the Prior Mountain Area in Carbon County. The cause of the fire is undetermined. Several ranches and cabins are near the fire, but no structures are immediately threatened. Thunderstorms on Saturday caused the fire to grow to 500 acres; storms are expected over the next few days in the fire area with high temperatures as well. The Deep Draw Fire is expected to reach containment by Aug. 17.
The Indian Ridge Fire was discovered on July 7 and has burned about 2,500 acres of land. Fire managers are creating a protection strategy to prevent important wilderness infrastructure from being impacted by the fire. Hot, dry conditions are predicted for the area. The Clover Fire reamed at 1,101 acres and is 50% contained as of Friday. The Weasel Fire is at 1,591 acres and is expected to be contained by Sep. 30. The Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest reported a new emerging wildfire incident. The Sugar Loaf Fire is estimated to have burned about four acres of land.
Click here to find closures and evacuations of areas near the wildfires. Yourbigsky will provide more wildfire updates throughout the week.