Alder Creek, Trail Creek, Christensen, and Black Mountain Fire Update August 12, 2021

Alder Creek

Size: 11, 999 Acres

Containment: 10%

Location: 7 miles west of Wise River, MT

Start Date: July 8, 2021

Cause: Unknown

Total personnel: 375

Alder Creek Fire: A helicopter dropped water on the southeast side of the fire near Deno Creek as hand crews improved lines to reduce fire spread. No major fire movement was seen. Crews are continuing to clear and improve the road system near Calvert Hill. This will provide an anchor point to fight the fire should it move in that direction. More work is expected along the Pioneer Scenic Byway as Fire engines will continue to patrol it and Highway 43, testing and running sprinklers around structures.

Trail Creek

Size: 36,076 Acres

Containment: 26%

Location: 20 miles west of Wisdom, MT

Start Date: July 8, 2021

Cause: Lightning

Total personnel: 213

Trail Creek Fire: Helicopters continued to drop water near Three-Mile Ridge on the southeast corner of the fire in Idaho. Heavy equipment is widening the control line along Gibbonsville Road. This will greatly improve the probability of success for stopping the fire should it reach the road. Structure protection work is complete in Gibbonsville so crews are focused on patrolling and running sprinklers. The fire continues to move north of Big Hole Battlefield and firefighters are positioned to catch the fire in the grassy areas with natural water barriers to assist in stopping the fire. Containment lines south of Big Hole continue to hold, preventing the fire from reaching private property. Engines will continue to patrol this area.

Christensen

Size: 8,806 Acres

Containment: 10%

Location: 12 miles west of Wise River, MT

Start Date: July 16, 2021

Cause: Unknown

Total personnel: 18

Christensen Fire: Crews have made slow and steady progress constructing line on the south side of the fire moving east. This work is very close to the fire’s edge. Fire remained active on the north side of the fire near Trident Peak and Toomey drainage, but was not growing. The containment lines being constructed near Calvert Hill will also provide a control feature to check up or stop the fire should it make a run to the north.

Black Mountain

Size: 1,042 Acres

Containment: 75%

Location: 13 miles south of Jackson, MT

Start Date: July 17, 2021

Cause: Lightning

Total personnel: 41

Black Mountain Fire: Containment is steady at 75 percent as no fire activity has been observed for over a week. Contingency lines are complete should the situation change. Firefighters will chip debris produced from road improvement work and will continue to monitor the area.

Fire Weather Today: Today’s temperatures will be 75 to 85 with a minimum relative humidity between 18 to 25 percent and Northwest winds at 8 to 10 mph with gusts of 15 to 20mph. An evening wind shift from the North and Northeast could affect fire behavior on South-facing slopes. There is a predicted drying trend through the weekend with increasing temperatures and decreasing humidity.