Community Meeting Details Sand Creek Fire’s Rapid Growth and Firefighters’ Plans Ahead

POLARIS, Mont. — The Sand Creek Fire has grown from a relatively small wildfire southeast of Wisdom into a 27,575-acre incident that has crossed the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway, burned through portions of Maverick Mountain and forced residents across a broad section of Beaverhead County to evacuate.

During a community meeting Wednesday evening, members of Northern Rockies Incident Management Team 3 described several days of extreme fire behavior that repeatedly forced firefighters to shift from one threatened property to the next. With cooler, wetter weather expected, crews are now preparing to move from primarily defending individual structures toward building and securing longer containment lines.

The fire began July 26 approximately 7.5 miles southeast of Wisdom. When Southwestern Montana News first reported on the incident Aug. 1, the fire had grown from an initial estimate of about 40 acres to 450 acres in only a few hours. Crews reported crowning and torching as flames moved through timber.

The fire reached 1,004 acres during the following days. At that point, steep terrain, heavy concentrations of fallen timber and limited escape routes prevented firefighters from safely working directly along much of the fire’s edge.

Those conditions led managers to use an indirect strategy, relying on roads, natural barriers and firelines constructed from safer locations. Hot, dry and windy weather later caused the fire to accelerate dramatically toward the east.

By Wednesday, Aug. 12, the Sand Creek Fire had reached an estimated 27,575 acres. On Tuesday, it crossed the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway and moved through portions of the Maverick Mountain ski area.

Fire behavior analyst Matt Butler said several consecutive days of low humidity, strong winds and unstable atmospheric conditions drove the rapid growth. In some locations, the fire spotted ahead of itself as burning material was carried across roads and other potential control features.

Firefighters have concentrated heavily on protecting homes, cabins, businesses, communication sites and other infrastructure.

Crews installed an extensive system of pumps, hoses, sprinklers and portable water tanks around properties between Elkhorn Hot Springs, Maverick Mountain, Polaris and the Grasshopper Valley. Trees and brush were removed around cabins to improve defensible space, while aircraft dropped water and retardant around threatened areas.

Operations Section Chief Philip Knob described Tuesday’s effort in the Grasshopper Valley as an intense firefight involving engines, dozers, hand crews, helicopters and air tankers.

At Elkhorn Hot Springs, fire spotted across the byway and surrounded firefighters with flames on both sides. Crews withdrew for safety after activating pumps and sprinkler systems. Those systems continued operating after firefighters left, and officials said the major buildings at Elkhorn remained standing.

At Maverick Mountain, the fire destroyed the small building at the top of the mountain and damaged the ski lift. However, the main lodge and other buildings remained standing as of Wednesday’s briefing. Additional inspections will be needed to determine the full extent of damage to the lift and other ski-area infrastructure.

Firefighters also reported that structures in the Price Creek area remained standing after crews were able to return, refill water tanks and restart protection systems.

Officials cautioned that danger remains even after the main fire front passes. Burning trees can fall, hot material can roll downhill and remaining pockets of fire can threaten structures hours or days later. Pumps, hoses and sprinklers will therefore remain in place until managers are confident the surrounding areas are secure.

Evacuation orders have expanded as the fire moved east and south.

Current “GO” areas include Elkhorn Hot Springs, Maverick Mountain and communities south to Shale Creek and Clark Creek on the north end of the Grasshopper Valley. The order also includes areas from Billings Creek north, from Polaris to the subdivisions near Ma Barnes, including Mountain View, Highboy Drive, Sawtooth Road and Clark Creek Road.

Residents in those areas should remain out until authorities announce a change in evacuation status.

Officials are asking people without property or another legitimate reason to stay out of the affected area. Unnecessary traffic can interfere with firefighting equipment, law enforcement operations and residents moving livestock or personal belongings.

Cooler weather could create an opportunity

Fire managers said a change in the weather could provide firefighters with something they have not had during the fire’s rapid expansion: time and space to construct control lines.

Higher humidity, cooler temperatures and possible precipitation are expected to reduce the sustained torching and spotting seen during recent days. Thunderstorms remain a concern, however, because their outflow winds can reach 40 to 50 mph and arrive from unpredictable directions.

The weather change is not expected to extinguish the fire. Heavy logs and other large fuels can continue smoldering and burning even after receiving rain.

If fire activity moderates, crews plan to expand dozer line along the transition between timber and grass on both the eastern and western sides of the fire. That flatter, more open terrain gives firefighters a safer and more defensible location than the steep, timbered slopes closer to the fire.

Managers also plan to look for opportunities to establish an anchor point on the northern portion of the fire. From that secure starting point, crews could combine handline and dozer line and begin working more directly along the fire’s flanks.

Burnout operations may eventually be used to remove vegetation between constructed lines and the wildfire. Officials stressed that those operations will only take place when weather, staffing and other conditions are favorable. If rain slows the fire enough to permit firefighters to construct a closer line, managers will pursue that option before intentionally burning a larger area.

Structure protection will continue around Maverick Mountain, Elkhorn Hot Springs, the Grasshopper Valley, Price Creek and other threatened locations. Additional firefighters are also arriving, including a crew expected from Mississippi on Friday.

Coolidge remains in the fire’s potential path

During Wednesday’s reconnaissance flight, the eastern portion of the fire was moving northeast toward the Coolidge area.

Managers said they are aware of structures near Coolidge, but the one-way road into the area creates a serious safety concern. Crews will not be committed there while fire behavior could cut off their escape route.

If the weather moderates, managers may consider sending a small, highly mobile team into the area after completing a risk assessment.

Fire managers expressed cautious optimism that the approaching weather pattern will allow crews to make progress. The immediate objectives are to hold existing lines, continue protecting structures, complete dozer lines on both sides of the fire and look for safe opportunities to begin securing more of the perimeter.

Even with cooler weather, residents should not expect a quick end to the incident. Fire can remain active in heavy timber, and managers said structure-protection equipment will stay in place until completed lines have been tested by wind or other changing conditions.

A community meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 13, at 6 p.m. at the Wise River Community Building. Officials are expected to provide updated information on fire growth, suppression work, evacuations and structure assessments.

The Sand Creek Fire remains active, and conditions can change quickly. Residents should continue monitoring information from the Beaverhead County Sheriff’s Office, Beaverhead County Emergency Services and official fire information channels.