Saw Log Fire Estimated At 1500 Acres Fueled By Extreme Conditions
- May 4
- 2 min read
WISER RIVER, MT – Due to dry fuels, gusty winds, and challenging topography, firefighting efforts yesterday were limited, and no strategic firing operations could be implemented. Fire activity was primarily driven by dry vegetation and alignment of strong winds with drainage features.
High winds, reaching up to 40-50 mph associated with passing thunderstorms, caused dangerous fire behavior, especially in timbered areas with heavy “dead and downed” trees and numerous snags. The fire has advanced east across Sawlog Creek toward the footprint from the 2021 Alder Fire, with the 2021 Christensen Fire footprint located to the south.
Crews, supported by helicopter operations, initially attacked the fire directly, but weather conditions prompted or necessitated disengagement in the afternoon. A brief period of gusty outflow winds and downdrafts prevented further suppression efforts. No precipitation fell in the area. An overnight infrared (IR) flight has not updated acreage estimates, but helicopter mapping yesterday afternoon estimated the fire at approximately 1,500 acres.
Today’s focus is on securing the perimeter, mopping up hot spots, and extinguishing lingering heat in key areas, especially on the west side of the river. As a precaution, firefighters with engines will provide structure protection for private properties along the Big Hole River’s western flank.
An inbound crew of 8 smokejumpers will assist in scouting and controlling inaccessible portions of the fire, helping to limit impacts to critical values, including private land and infrastructure.
Fire investigators continue to determine the fire’s cause. Neither the Forest Service nor the BLM conducted prescribed burns in this area. The fire is burning mainly in sagebrush and Lodgepole pine timber, with high concentrations of dead and downed fuels in the mixed conifer forest on north-facing slopes, increasing hazards for firefighters.
Public Safety Notice: The BLM has issued a temporary closure for the Sawlog dispersed camping area at the Big Hole River ford site. Detailed closure information is available on the InciWeb Sawlog Fire page under the Closures tab.
Comments