Bobcat Lakes Fire Reaches 45% Containment as Sand Creek Firing Operations Continue

BEAVERHEAD COUNTY, Mont. — The Bobcat Lakes Fire has reached 45% containment while firefighters continue using strategic firing operations to secure portions of the Sand Creek Fire.

The lightning-caused fires have burned more than 45,000 acres combined:

• The Bobcat Lakes Fire is estimated at 10,828 acres and is 45% contained.

• The Sand Creek Fire is estimated at 34,733 acres and is 13% contained.

• The Skull Fire is estimated at 67 acres and remains 0% contained.

A total of 641 personnel are assigned to the incidents. Resources include 17 engines, 15 crews, three dozers, five masticators and 13 skidgens.

Sand Creek Fire

Conditions Monday allowed crews to conduct firing operations on the northwestern side of the Sand Creek Fire, producing additional smoke.

Fire managers said direct access to the irregular fire edge is difficult and unsafe because of densely timbered terrain. Firing operations allow crews to work from an indirect control line and remove fuel between the line and the fire’s edge under favorable conditions.

Cold air and southeasterly winds caused smoke to settle into the Big Hole Valley overnight and Tuesday morning. Air quality could remain diminished until late morning.

Firefighters patrolled containment lines along the southern side of the fire from Old Tim Creek east to Dingley Creek. Officials said the lines remain secure, but patrols will continue because protecting private property in the Grasshopper Valley remains a priority.

On the northeastern side, crews connected a combination of direct and indirect control lines between Price Creek and the ridge north of Comet Mountain.

Firefighters are scouting additional control-line locations from Old Tim Creek west toward Cow Camp. Hand-firing operations may continue north of Old Tim Creek if conditions permit.

A substantial amount of dead and downed timber on the southwestern corner makes it difficult to establish a control line that will hold. Crews will continue evaluating indirect options in that area.

Along the western side, firefighters are preparing Steel-Fox Road as a control line and using hand firing to burn pockets of heavy fuel between the fire and established lines.

Bobcat Lakes Fire

Crews patrolled the containment line from the northeastern corner south of Pettengill Creek and along the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway. Officials reported that the line remains secure.

Firefighters continue mopping up and securing the southern control line along Lacy Creek Road west toward Jerked Prairie.

A heavy-equipment task force is working north from Crystal Park along the Scenic Byway. Crews are thinning vegetation and reducing fuels on both sides of the road to improve its effectiveness as a control line between the Bobcat Lakes and Sand Creek fires.

Skull Fire

The Skull Fire increased slightly to an estimated 67 acres. It remains held along the ridge above Skull and Lacy creeks.

The fire is located approximately eight miles southeast of Wisdom and one mile east of Odell Lake.

Weather and fire behavior

A warmer and more active weather pattern is expected Tuesday. High temperatures are forecast between 73 and 79 degrees, with minimum relative humidity between 19% and 24%.

Thunderstorms are expected to develop Tuesday afternoon and move across southwestern Montana through the evening. Fire activity could increase because of dry air and atmospheric instability.

Officials expect most of the heat to remain along the western side of the Sand Creek Fire.

Evacuations, closures and restrictions

The Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway remains closed. The Dingley Zone in the Grasshopper Valley remains under a GO evacuation order.

A closure remains in effect for National Forest System lands, roads and trails in the fire area. Additional information is available from the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest.

Beaverhead County remains under Stage 1 fire restrictions. Evacuation updates are available through the Beaverhead County Sheriff’s Office.