Sawlog Fire Fully Contained After Steady Precipitation And Firefighting Efforts

The Sawlog Fire, which had threatened the surrounding areas, has been fully contained, with no smoke visible yesterday. The Type 3 Incident Management Team has officially transferred command to a Type 4 organization, led by Incident Commander Kyle Errecart, marking a significant milestone in the fire suppression efforts.

Most firefighting resources have demobilized and returned to their home units. Remaining personnel will continue perimeter patrols and will enter the fire area only when conditions are safe, particularly due to recent muddy access caused by weather. The Incident Command Post located at Wisdom Airport is expected to be dismantled by the end of today.

Recent weather played a crucial role in controlling the fire, with steady precipitation including snow and rain arriving over the past 24 hours. Some locations received at least half an inch of moisture, which helped suppress remaining hotspots. Today, weather conditions are primarily cloudy and foggy, with a 20% chance of additional precipitation. Temperatures are forecasted to remain in the 50s, with relative humidity around 55%. Winds will be from the northwest at 5-15 mph, with gusts reaching up to 25 mph.

For public safety, the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest’s Wisdom Ranger District has issued closures affecting roads and trails in the vicinity, including NFS Road #8242, NFS Trail #2180, and a portion of NFS Trail #2099. The Fishtrap Creek Fishing Access Site and the Sawlog dispersed camping area managed by the BLM also remain closed.

The Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) imposed over the fire area has been lifted, allowing aircraft operations to resume.

Fire officials continue to monitor the area as new patrols are conducted when safe. Updates on closures, along with detailed maps and information, are available on the Sawlog Fire Inciweb page under the Closures tab.