East Side Fire Near Red Lodge Mapped at 1,204 Acres With 0% Containment

Overview

• The latest InciWeb update Wednesday put the fire at 1,204 acres with 0% containment, kept about 185 homes under evacuation orders, reopened Highway 212 south of town to cautious travel, and reported no injuries or lost structures.
• Acreage changed after an infrared mapping flight Tuesday refined the perimeter, replacing rough early estimates as high as 3,000 acres.
• Incident leaders report 135 personnel and six helicopters on the fire, with aircraft cooling hot spots, crews building lines on the north edge to keep it from Red Lodge, and smokejumpers hiking to Mount Maurice to check and contain heat.
• A cold front is due this evening with southwest winds of 25–30 mph and gusts up to 50 mph, then a chance of rain this evening and snow overnight, with officials set to re-evaluate evacuations after the front moves through.
• The cause remains under investigation, and early-season timing has complicated air support because Montana usually pre-positions large tankers later in summer, prompting orders from Colorado, California, and South Dakota.