HAMILTON, Mont. - The Black Bear Fire is burning 1,469 acres with no containment around 10 miles southeast of Hamilton, according to a press release from the Local Type 3 Incident Management Team. 27 personnel are assigned to the fire.
Incident command said the fire activity increased throughout the red flag conditions over the weekend.
"Strategic firing operations were used to be able to safely engage with the fire and lead it to indirect control lines and older burn scars," incident command said. "These burn scars are slowing the fire due to a lack of vegetation and burnable material available in those areas. Due to the steep terrain and a heavy fuel load of dead vegetation, the fire was predicted to jump the FS 75 road and place spot fires over the confinement lines without firing operations. Fire managers planned for these strategic firing operations throughout the week."
Closures are in place along Skalkaho-Rye (FS Road 75) and the 711 Road for firefighting activity. For more information, visit the U.S. Forest Service website.