Sand Creek Fire Grows to 27,575 Acres

POLARIS, Mont. — The Sand Creek Fire has grown to a massive 27,575 acres and continues to spread, prompting additional evacuations as hundreds of firefighters work to protect homes, businesses and other structures in the fire's path.

On Tuesday, the fire crossed the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway, leading authorities to expand evacuation areas.

Current evacuation areas include Elkhorn Hot Springs and Maverick Mountain, including all communities south to Shale Creek and Clark Creek on the north end of Grasshopper Valley.

Evacuations also extend from Billings Creek north, from Polaris to the Ma Barnes subdivisions. Mountain View, Highboy Drive, Sawtooth Road and Clark Creek Road are also included.

Firefighters used helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft throughout Tuesday while hundreds of personnel worked on the ground to slow the fire and protect threatened structures.

As of approximately 10 p.m. Tuesday, Beaverhead County Sheriff David Wendt told Southwestern Montana News that, to his knowledge, the only structures lost at Maverick Mountain were the ski patrol shack at the top of the mountain and the ski lift.

Other structures in the area, including the main lodge, were still standing based on the information available to the sheriff at that time.

Conditions can change rapidly, and additional damage assessments will be necessary as firefighters gain access to affected areas.

Community Meetings Scheduled

Two community meetings are scheduled to provide residents with the latest information about the Sand Creek Fire.

The first meeting will be held tonight, Wednesday, August 12, at 6 p.m. at Jackson School, 415 Jardine Avenue in Jackson.

A second meeting will be held Thursday, August 13, at 6 p.m. at the Wise River Community Building.

Authorities are asking members of the public to stay out of the affected areas unless they have property or another legitimate reason to be there.

Unnecessary traffic can interfere with firefighting operations, evacuation efforts and residents attempting to move livestock or personal property. With firefighting resources already under significant strain, officials are asking everyone to give emergency personnel the room they need to work safely.

The Sand Creek Fire remains an active and rapidly changing situation.

Southwestern Montana News will continue monitoring the fire, evacuation areas and structure protection efforts and will provide additional updates as confirmed information becomes available.

Evacuation order Boundaries