Sand Creek and Bobcat Lakes Fires Keep Burning in Beaverhead County, Montana

Lightning ignitions, gusty winds and continued fire growth force crews to rely on shaded fuel breaks, controlled burns, aircraft and heavy equipment to hold control lines.

Overview

The two linked wildfires have grown to roughly 34,083 acres for Sand Creek and about 10,784 acres for Bobcat Lakes with containment at about 13% and 40% respectively, according to the latest incident update.
Crews assigned to the incidents total about 615–660 personnel using engines, hand crews, dozers, masticators, skidgens, aircraft and unmanned aerial systems to build and secure control lines.
On Saturday firefighters focused on building a shaded fuel break along the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway and conducting hand and aerial ignitions to connect and strengthen control lines on the fires’ south and west flanks.
Three new lightning-caused fires (Skull, Skull 2 and Boot) were detected near the Sand Creek perimeter and are being managed as part of the response because they raise the risk of renewed growth in exposed terrain.
Public-safety measures remain in place including a Forest Service area/road/trail closure through the Wisdom and Dillon ranger districts, BLM temporary closures, a temporary flight restriction, Stage 1 county fire restrictions and a GO evacuation for the Dingley Zone.