Lightning Strikes Cause Multiple Fires In Beaverhead County

A lightning strike fire call came in around 5:30 PM today, July 16, 2021. The fire was reported burning in grass and small trees on the southwest side of Clark Canyon Dam.

Update 10:30 PM 07/16/2021: This fire is know being refereed to as the Armstead Fire, they are showing it at 1 acre with forward progression being halted. Fire was contained and is out.

As firefighters were in the process of responding to this fire, another call came in of a lightning strike caused fire up Birch Creek just past the old Plutt Homestead.

Update: Fire is out

With multiple fires in the area, these two strikes have added pressure to the already overrun firefighters.

A helicopter was being called in to be used on the Birch Creek fire, as ground crews attacked the Clark Canyon fire. This is a developing story and we will update as more information becomes available.

Smoke rises from behind Clark Canyon Dam

Firefighters work to stop the fire from spreading