Winds, drier weather could increase behavior on wildfires in SW Montana this week, officials say

“Fire behavior will begin to increase with backing and flanking and occasional isolated single-tree torching,” Mike Behrens, the Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3 commander, said in Tuesday’s fire briefing. “The increase in activity will be related to lower relative humidity levels and warmer temperatures.”

The NWS in Missoula said temperatures Thursday and Friday will be about 10 degrees above average and humidity will drop compared to recent days.

The Sand Creek fire burning 7.5 miles southeast of Wisdom was an estimated 31,667 acres as of Tuesday morning, a slight increase from Monday, and just 2% contained. The Bobcat Lakes fire about 13 miles southwest of Wise River was an estimated 9,892 acres and 19% contained. The causes of both fires remain undetermined.

There are now 829 personnel working the fires, along with 54 engines, 10 crews and 12 dozers.

On the Sand Creek fire, firefighters plan to install hose in Crystal Park that will be used if the fire becomes active again, Behrens said. They will also start chipping cut fuels along the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway, as well “in preparation for warming and drying conditions and expected increased fire behavior over the next few days.”

Plans to perform firing operations to burn out fuels and widen containment lines have been put on hold, Behrens said. Crews are now working on direct line on the fire’s lower west perimeter, and hotshot crews are putting in direct line on the fire’s southern edge between Maverick Mountain and Old Tim Creek, and on the southeast corner north of Clark Creek.

Firefighters on the Bobcat Lakes fire are moving hose from the east side of the fire to the southeast corner at Lacy Creek where heat remains, and they have made progress securing line on the northern edge at Pettengill Creek and Jerked prairie, Behrens said.

They will continue mop-up efforts and cutting dead trees along the byway between the two fires in case the byway ends up being needed as a fire line, Behrens said.

The Dingley Zone of the Sand Creek fire remains under “go” evacuation status, while evacuation orders for Moose Creek and Sugarloaf Hill on the Bobcat Lakes fire were lifted. Other evacuation orders for the Sand Creek fire were lifted on Monday after a weekend of cooler, wet weather that followed last week's threats to Maverick Mountain and Elkhorn Hot Springs, both of which firefighters were largely able to save.

Dillon native Stan Smith, whose varied career has included work in movies, coordinating living history at Bannack, janitorial work, serving as a deputy county coroner and more, posted a tribute on Facebook to firefighters who had saved Elkhorn Hot Springs. He gave permission to The Montana Standard to quote it.

“Since childhood, it has been a place of family, friends and happy memories,” Smith wrote. “From Sundays after skiing to get-togethers with classmates in my youth, to family reunions and adventures and relaxing after haying season. From birthday and anniversary celebrations, to teaching my kids and some grandkids to swim.”

He recalled soothing aches and pains at Elkhorn Hot Springs after a rodeo or in the wake of trailing cattle for days.

“Its water and peaceful surroundings have soaked my heart in fond memories,” Smith wrote. “Thank you to all who helped protect it during this blaze. You are all so appreciated.”

Duncan Adams contributed to this report.