Montana Wildfire Update

Crews Struggle with 3,000-acre Fire Near West Yellowstone

By Jessica Mayrer, 6-29-07

Several wildfires are burning in Montana and firefighters are bracing for a busy summer with fire danger high, thunderstorms predicted and temperatures to remain warm through the Fourth of July holiday.

“This is pretty early to be seeing ‘extreme’ and ‘very high’ fire danger,” said Jack de Golia, public affairs officer for the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest.  “We usually don’t see this until mid to late July.”

The Madison Arm Fire in Southwestern Montana near West Yellowstone is the state’s biggest, now 5 percent contained and nearly 3,000 acres. Authorities have evacuated the Baker’s Hole Campground, Madison Arm Resort and Lakeshore Summer Homes, said Erin Fryer from the Gallatin National Forest.

Fire crews are filing into the area in to protect the 75 homes currently at risk, Fryer said.

Yellowstone Holiday subdivision, Yellowstone Village, Rainbow Point Campground and Duck Creek Campground are on alert for evacuation.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The Hebgen Lake Ranger District, surrounding the fire, has implemented Stage I fire restrictions, limiting campfires to enclosed rings and smoking to areas clear of brush.

Fire officials will provide more information on the Madison Arm Fire tonight at a public meeting to take place at 7 p.m. in the Community Protestant Church in West Yellowstone.

Another fire, sparked by lightening, is burning in the Lewis and Clark National Forest in central Montana. The Middle Fork Fire in the Judith Wilderness Study Area has burned nearly 1,150 acres 20 miles southwest of Utica.

No evacuations are in effect from the Middle Fork Fire, but there are several homes within two miles of the blaze and if wind picks up, the fire could take off, said Doug Dodge, from the Musselshell Ranger District. 

The fire is 35 percent contained, but because of steep terrain, crews could be monitoring this fire all summer, Dodge said.

Authorities are also keeping an eye on another small fire north of Butte, dubbed the Wire Fire, sparked, apparently, by a downed power line.  Fire fighters are bracing for thunderstorms and strong winds predicted for the area.

As the Fourth of July approaches, here in Missoula, the city is launching its annual, ‘This Isn’t Rocket Science,’ campaign to promote a safe holiday.  As part of the campaign, a hotline is now open to report illegal fireworks within city limits.  To make a fireworks complaint call: 258-4850

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