Alder Creek
Size: 11,206 Acres
Containment: 10%
Location: 7 miles west of Wise River, MT
Start Date: July 8, 2021
Cause: Unknown
Total personnel: 307
Alder Creek Fire: Significant moisture was received in the Deno Creek area, west of Highway 73 on Monday. Heavy equipment, crews and professional fallers will continue preparation of indirect fire line in the Bryant Creek area to the west and south of Highway 43 toward the Christensen Fire.
Trail Creek
Size: 35,602 Acres
Containment: 2%
Location: 20 miles west of Wisdom, MT
Start Date: July 8, 2021
Cause: Lightning
Total personnel: 139
Trail Creek Fire: Moisture received over the last several shifts will reduce fire activity in the
near term. Crews work to improve fireline and holding features by hand and with heavy equipment in Gory Creek, Highway 93 and Gibbonsville. The Structure Group will ensure usability of prep by testing water systems and maintaining availability for initial attack as needed.
Christensen
Size: 8,397 Acres
Containment: 0%
Location: 12 miles west of Wise River, MT
Start Date: July 16, 2021
Cause: Unknown
Total personnel: 18
Christensen Fire: Crews will continue to assess potential containment line around the fire perimeter. Structure protection will continue in the Christensen Creek Ranch area. Firefighters are chipping material cleared during containment and contingency line construction in the Christensen Creek area to the north and east toward the Alder Creek Fire.
Black Mountain
Size: 1,041 Acres
Containment: 0%
Location: 13 miles south of Jackson, MT
Start Date: July 17, 2021
Cause: Lightning
Total personnel: 71
Black Mountain Fire: Chipping and preparations along the Snowshoe Hare Road will continue
with crews and heavy equipment as well as patrol of the fire perimeter. Resources will shift
from other areas of the fire to assess feasibility of work for hotshot crews and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS or Drone) to complete fire suppression activities.
Weather: Weather will be significantly drier, with warmer conditions. Deep mixing will prevail
as this drier airmass moves into the region, with prevailing west to northwest winds. There will
be enough lingering mid-level moisture to favor the development of scattered thunderstorms
in the afternoon.
Major Closures:
-Hwy 43 and Pioneer Byway remain open. Motorists are asked to slow down and be on the
alert for firefighters, heavy smoke, and downed trees. Please check the Montana DOT Road
Report website MDT.MT.gov/travinfomobile for current conditions.
-Continental Divide Trail: Closed from Lemhi Pass north to Mussigbrod Creek.
-Big Hole National Battlefield is closed until further notice. North and South VanHouten, Miner
Lakes, Twin Lakes, May Creek and Divide Bridge Campgrounds are closed.
-Forest Closure orders are in effect for all three fires.
Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF: Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF Closures
Salmon-Challis NF: Salmon-Challis NF Closures
Smoke:
Montana air quality alert for Beaverhead County: http://todaysair.mt.gov
Idaho air pollution forecast for Lemhi County: https://airquality.deq.idaho.gov/home/map
Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are in effect for SW Montana: https://www.mtfireinfo.org
Stage 1 Fire Restrictions are in effect for Central ID: https://www.idl.idaho.gov/fire-
Evacuations:
Beaverhead County Sheriff has Stage 1 Evacuation Orders in effect for Alder Creek Community and Highway 43 from Mile Marker 35 to the County Line at Mile Marker 41.5. This includes the residents on Doolittle Creek Road and North Doolittle Creek Road. Stage 2 is in place for the southside of Hwy 43 from Alder Creek Road to Dickie Bridge, and the westside of Pioneer Scenic Byway from airport to Harriet Lou Road Beaverhead Sheriff.
Lemhi County Sheriff has contacted residences in threatened areas on the west side of the
Trail Creek Fire in Idaho and placed in “Set” evacuation status. Info: 208-756-8980.
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