Bear Creek Fire Update

Dillon, MT August 11, 2020     The Bear Creek Fire was reported at approximately 10:30 am this morning.  The fire is currently located at Lemhi Pass on the Dillon Ranger District of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. 

By midday the fire had grown to approximately 100 acres, and fanned by very high winds it reached over 200 acres by late afternoon. At this time the cause of the fire is not known.

Federal, state and local fire officials responded quickly, but both ground and air engagements were not safe and very difficult due to the active fire behavior and continued Red Flag Warning conditions including high winds, low humidity and a significant amount of dry fuels. Fire management’s first priority remains firefighter and public safety. Weather predictions show that the Red Flag Warnings will persist through Thursday, August 13 this week.

Currently resources on site include: two Type 1 Crews; two Type 2 Crews; a Type 2 Initial Attack crew; one each Type 2 and Type 3 Helicopters; six Type 6 Engines; 1 tactical Water Tender. Later today additional resources were ordered including four more Type 4 Engines, and three Type 1 Crews. A Type 2 Incident Management Team (IMT) was ordered and will arrive take control of the incident the morning of August 13th.

Smoke is visible over a significant area, including Dillon, communities of the Big Hole Valley, Tendoy, Lemhi Valley, and the area surrounding Salmon, Idaho.

Photo credits Cheri Ford, Forest Supervisor B-D

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