Fire danger to remain high into the weekend
BILLINGS — Fire officials on Friday warned people gearing up for the Labor Day weekend to avoid popular outdoor recreation spots that are near the multiple wildfires burning more than 100 square miles across Montana.
Critical fire conditions were forecast into the three-day weekend, and a nightmare scenario for firefighters would be a blaze that makes a sudden run into an area populated by holiday goers.
That includes the Pipeline area north of Interstate 90 near Butte, a popular spot for all-terrain vehicles and motorcyclists, but which is near the 19 Mile Fire that has burned 6 square miles and at least nine structures.
The area has not been closed, but the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management are encouraging people to go elsewhere, said Forest Service spokeswoman Mariah Leuschen.
“We’re asking recreationists to consider other areas. It does look like we’re making good progress on the fire, but given fire activity, there is the potential” for it to spread, Leuschen said Friday.
The 19 Mile Fire is threatening at least 80 buildings, and officials say more have burned than the nine confirmed so far. A better estimate on the damage was expected to come from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Friday night, Leuschen said.
Evacuations were still in effect for at least 150 people in the area, and authorities were escorting residents to check on their homes in the mornings when the temperature is cool and fire activity low.
In the Bozeman area, worries about the 15-square-mile Millie Fire prompted officials to close several popular camping and recreation areas including Hyalite Canyon and Bozeman Creek.
Those two areas can get as many as 10,000 to 12,000 visitors on a holiday weekend, said Marna Daley with the Forest Service. With only one road leading into and out of each canyon, Daley said officials decided the areas would be too difficult to evacuate if the fire made a sudden run.
South of Livingston, the Pine Creek Fire south of Livingston has grown to almost 19 square miles and burned at least five homes. Evacuations were still in effect but were being eased in areas where the flames have died down.
South of Ashland, the Rough Fire that erupted Thursday was threatening a pair of houses after growing to 300 acres.
On the Rosebud Fire near Roscoe along the Beartooth Mountains front, evacuations were lifted for about 20 houses and summer cabins. Officials said the nearby blaze was 75 percent contained after burning almost 4 square miles of timber, grass and sage brush. No houses have burned.
The National Weather Service is forecasting wind gusts up to 40 mph through the weekend in portions of the state. Combined with low humidity levels and high temperatures, the conditions could stir new life into fires already burning. Thunderstorms also were forecast that could spark new blazes.