Fire shows little growth; new team takes over

A Type 2 incident command team on Tuesday took over operations on an unusually early wildfire burning on the eastern edge of the Bob Marshall Wilderness.

The 1,084-acres Elk Hill Fire has remained mostly inactive during the past two days.

The fire was first reported Saturday in the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest, just east of the North Fork of the Sun River.

Forest spokeswoman Kathy Bushnell said no portion of the fire’s perimeter had been reported as “contained” as of Tuesday afternoon, but it is currently bounded by the river to the west and the fire crews don’t expect it to jump the natural barrier.

Three helicopters continued water drops while crews constructed fire lines along the fire’s more active northern end.

“The Type 2 crew will be doing some of the same work, but also mop-up [on the south end], making sure that some of the areas the fire has already been are cold, with no hot spots in the area,” Bushnell said.

“They’re hoping the precipitation in the forecast for Wednesday and Thursday actually happens and can help slow fire activity.”

Total fire personnel roughly doubled from Monday to 50 people, about 40 of whom are working on the ground, Bushnell said.

She added there were no weather concerns in the forecast and precipitation was a welcome possibility.

Reporter Sam Wilson can be reached at 758-4407 or by email at swilson@dailyinterlake.com.