Sand Creek Fire Reaches 36% Containment as Management Transition Set for Monday

WISDOM, Mont. — Firefighters continue making progress on the Sand Creek Fire, which has reached 36% containment, as management of three Southwest Montana wildfires prepares to transition back to a local organization.

The Sand Creek Fire is now estimated at 35,509 acres and 36% contained, while the Bobcat Lakes Fire is estimated at 10,895 acres and 61% contained. The smaller Skull Fire is estimated at 68 acres and remains listed at 0% containment.

A total of 495 personnel are currently assigned to the fires, including 12 crews, 11 engines, one dozer, five masticators and seven skidgens.

All three fires were caused by lightning and began July 31 or August 1.

Fire Management Returning to Local Team

On Monday evening, September 7, Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 1, led by Incident Commander Brent Olson, is scheduled to transfer command of the Bobcat Lakes, Sand Creek and Skull fires to a local Type 3 organization from the Wisdom Ranger District of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest.

The incident management team thanked the surrounding communities for their support during its time managing the fires.

Sand Creek Fire

Crews continue mop-up and suppression repair along Steel-Fox Road to help protect private property on the western side of the Sand Creek Fire.

Along the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway, heavy equipment crews are thinning vegetation and reducing fuels between the Sand Creek and Bobcat Lakes fires.

Firefighters are also patrolling direct control lines from Price Creek to the ridgeline above Comet Mountain and west toward Grasshopper Ridge.

North and west of Dingley Creek, private landowners and resource advisors are identifying areas where suppression repair is needed so crews can begin erosion-prevention work on control lines.

Crews are preparing boundary fences from Stanley Creek south to Broomfield Gulch and providing point protection for values at risk. Repair and restoration work also continues along dozer lines on the southern perimeter.

In the Clemow Cow Camp area, firefighters are constructing direct and indirect control lines from Warm Springs Creek eastward while continuing mop-up work in Old Tim Creek.

Bobcat Lakes and Skull Fires

On the Bobcat Lakes Fire, firefighters continue reinforcing control lines along the northeast corner and eastern side of the fire.

Suppression repair crews are restoring areas impacted by firefighting operations, including repairing dozer and hand lines, rehabilitating disturbed ground and conducting chipping and grading along southern control lines near Lacy Creek Road. The work is intended to reduce erosion and protect natural resources.

The Skull Fire continues to show minimal activity, with unmanned aircraft being used to patrol the fire.

Rain Expected to Keep Fire Activity Low

Rain is expected to continue through Monday morning before tapering off around midday. Scattered showers could linger into the afternoon and evening.

With fuels saturated from the recent moisture, fire behavior is expected to remain primarily limited to smoldering. The conditions should allow firefighters to continue securing direct control lines and making progress on mop-up operations.

Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway Remains Closed

Despite improving conditions and increased containment, the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway remains closed.

Closures also remain in effect for National Forest System areas, roads and trails affected by the fires. Current closure information is available through the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest website.