Lightning-Started Nature Grove Fire Grows to 300 Acres Near Hamilton
Steep, densely timbered slopes are blocking ground crews so officials are using helicopters, air tankers and planned indirect line work while evacuation warnings remain in effect.
Overview
- The fire began after a lightning strike on Aug. 23 and expanded rapidly from a few acres to roughly 175 acres within a day before being remapped at about 300 acres on Aug. 25.
- Evacuation warnings apply to residents east of the 1800 block on both sides of Skalkaho Highway and officials urge early self-evacuation and enrollment in county alerts.
- Steep, thickly timbered terrain is preventing safe ground access, so incident teams have assigned multiple Type 1 helicopters, large air tankers and ordered very large tankers and heavy equipment to build indirect fire lines.
- Forest Service roads 75, 711 and 720 are closed, a Temporary Flight Restriction is in effect over the fire area, and crews are focused on defending structures along Highway 38.
- Officials expect significant spread over the next 48 hours because of warm, gusty conditions and dry fuels from low snowpack, and a community meeting to discuss operations and warnings is planned for Aug. 26 or 27 in Hamilton.