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Trail Ridge Fire

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Unit Information

Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest 
420 Barrett St 
Dillon, 
Montana 
59725 
Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest 
420 Barrett St 
Dillon, 
Montana 
59725 

Incident Contacts

  • Catherine McRae
    Email:
    catherine.mcrae@usda.gov
    Phone:
    4069253353
    Hours:
    M-F 8-7, S/S 9-5
  • Arlee Staley
    Email:
    frances.staley@usda.gov
    Phone:
    406-490-1818
    Hours:
    M-F 8-6
  • Wisdom Ranger District
    Phone:
    4066893243
    Hours:
    M-F 8-4:30
  • Darby Ranger District
    Phone:
    4068213913
    Hours:
    M-F 8-4:30
  • Catherine McRae
    Email:
    catherine.mcrae@usda.gov
    Phone:
    4069255353
    Hours:
    M-F 8-7 S/S 9-5

Trail Ridge Fire Update October 19, 2022

Trail Ridge Fire
Publication Type: News 10/26/2022

   

 

 

 

 

 

 


                                               INCIDENT COMMANDER: Josh Hansen

October 19, 2022

 

 

Trail Ridge Fire

Fire Summary

Approx. 5 miles SE Sula, MT

Approx. 11 miles NW of Big Hole National Battlefield

Size: 18,138 acres Completion: 78%

Personnel: 37

 

 

 

 


CURRENT STATUS

The Trail Ridge Fire is burning on the Wisdom District of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest and the Darby-Sula District of the Bitterroot National Forest.

 

Currently the fire is 18,138 acres.  The fire has been actively burning in the Hilltop, Tolan Creek, Four B Drainage and Gibbons Pass areas.  The two medium helicopters that have been working this area the last few days have been able to hold the fire on the ridge going down Tolan Creek. With more activity in the Four B Drainage the helicopters were used to cool and slow down the spread of fire. The helicopters will be used again today to keep the fire in check. The fire is also burning previously unburned fuels inside the current fire perimeter near Gibbons Pass and smoke is visible in this area. Crews will continue to monitor this area. According to Incident Commander (t) Ian Fowler the fire remains within the management objectives.  Tomorrow evening the fire will transition to a Type 4 team with Cache Gibbons as Incident Commander and Cody Hoover as the trainee.

 

The main objective for this fire continues to be firefighter and public safety.  Other primary objectives include keeping the fire    from impacting private lands and values along Highway 93 and East Fork of the Bitterroot corridors utilizing point protection and indirect lines where needed. Suppression repair work will continue when and where fire behavior allows.

 

Most of the resources are on the north side of the fire where the fire is currently most active. Firefighters will continue suppressions of spots. A Type 6 engine is helping with fire activity and suppression efforts. All remaining resources will continue to monitor the fire and look for opportunities for suppressions repair.  There is still a fire area closure which includes Mink (FS 5763) and Meadow Creek Roads (FS725) and a portion of the Continental Divide Trail.

 

FIRE WEATHER AND BEHAVIOR

Sunny, dry, and warm conditions will persist once again today, with a diurnal breeze expected in the mid to late afternoon.  Increasing winds on Thursday will begin around noon and continue through late evening, with gusts in the 25-30 mph range.  Today’s high will be 65-70 with 12-17% humidity. Tonight, expect mostly clear skies with minimum temperatures 40-45.  Humidity will increase to 38-43%.  Thursday will be mostly sunny with highs 62-67 and humidity 15-20%.  Wind will be out of the south

5-7 mph shifting to the west with possible gusts 25 mph in the afternoon.

 

TRAIL RIDGE CLOSURES AND SPECIAL MESSAGES

The most current Closure Order for the Trail Ridge Fire is effective as of 22SEP22 and can be viewed in full at https:// www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/bdnf/alerts-notices
Contact Information:  Darby RD  406.821.3913 
Wisdom RD  406-689-3243 
Email: frances.staley@usda.gov 
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