Monday afternoon a thunderstorm brought high winds a little moisture and a lot of lightning to Beaverhead County. Along with the lightning and high winds come fires and Monday was no exception. Most of the fires were contained and the acreage burned was kept to a minimum thanks to the quick response of our local fire agencies.
The fires are listed below:
COYOTE
Newly reported, the Coyote Fire was an unattended campfire along Delmoe Lake Road southeast of Butte. It was contained at less than one acre in size.
TEX
Newly reported, the Tex Fire is located northwest of Coyote Lake in the Big Sheep Creek area west of Lima. Estimated at 3 acres in grass, responding resources knocked down the flames and will mop-up areas of heat this evening.
MCDERMOTT
Located northwest of Philipsburg in the Upper Willow Creek area between McDermott Gulch and Corduroy Creek, the fire increased in activity in heavy timber. The fire is estimated at 20 acres.
RATIO MOUNTAIN
Fire behavior was active, with short crown runs, group torching, and isolated torching. The fire pushed westerly on the southwest corner, progressing beyond the unnamed drainage where it was previously hung up. Crews will address this area of heat if it advances further and backs down toward Little Whitetail Creek. A helicopter assisted the ground firefighters with water bucket drops. The fire is estimated at 1,158 acres.
GROUSE
Fire behavior was active, with the majority of movement north up the Reservoir Creek drainage and west towards the Cow Creek drainage. Firefighters worked to hold the fire along Pettengill Road and keep it north of Pettengill Creek. Two helicopters dropped water to cool areas of heat in the Grouse Lakes area to keep the fire south of Stine Mountain.
Pictures are of the Tex Fire courtesy of Beaverhead County Sheriff
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