Single Publication

      Hog Trough Fire

July 27, 2022 Update

Acres: 587 acres

Start Date: July 17th, 2022

Cause: Lightning

Origin Location: 18 miles East of Hamilton

Facebook: Hog Trough Fire Information

Fire Information: 406-763-1134 daily from 8am-8pm

Percent Contained: 9%

Jurisdiction: Bitterroot National Forest and Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest

Website:  https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8258/

Total Personnel: 132

Resources Assigned: 3 Hand Crews, 5 Helicopters, 4 Engines, 2 Skid Engine, 2 Excavators

Skalkaho Highway (Highway 38) is OPEN. To ensure firefighter and public safety, Forest Service 75 (Skalkaho-Rye) Road is currently closed from the junction of Highway 38 to Mile Marker 5 near Skalkaho Creek-Jerry Lake Trailhead #503. Forest Service 5070 (Sand Basin Creek) and 5071 Road is currently closed.

A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the fire area. Please do not fly drones near wildfires. Unauthorized drones were spotted near the fire over the weekend. Use of unauthorized unmanned aerial systems (UAS), or drones, in a fire area endangers the lives of pilots and firefighters. Know before you fly.

Summary: The Hog Trough Fire is at 587 acres and is burning in the Sapphire Wilderness Study Area (WSA) on both the Bitterroot and Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forests. No structures are currently threatened and no evacuations are in place.

Planned Actions: Heavy equipment (feller bunchers and excavators) will continue reducing vegetation along FS 75 Road and FS 5070/5071 Roads. Hand crews will continue work along Skalkaho Creek-Jerry Lake Trail #503 and being trail improvements to the Bitterroot Rock Creek Divide Trail #313 to prepare it as a potential barrier. Fire manager’s objective is to keep the fire south of Highway 38, east of FS 75 Road, and west of FS 5071 Road.

Fire Activity: The fire has shown no new growth overnight. It will continue to creep and the spot fires will continue to grow together. Single and group tree torching and short-range spotting can occur particularly in areas with heavy accumulations of woody debris and timber on the west side of the fire. The fire may impact FS 5071 Road to the east in the next 24 hours. Due to significant safety threats and inaccessibility, firefighters currently are not directly engaging the fire on the ground..

Fire Danger: Fire Danger is at Very High on the Bitterroot National Forest. Fire Danger is High on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. No fire restrictions are currently in place. For current fire restrictions, visit mtfireinfo.org.

Closures: See Inciweb for specific closure information.

·        FS Road 75, From Junction 38 and FS 75 to Mile Marker 5 (Skalkaho Creek-Jerry Lake Trailhead #503).

·        FS Road 5070 Closed.

·        Railroad Creek, National Forest System Trail #77 to Trail#313 at the gate.

·        Weasel Creek, National Forest System Trail #156 from milepost 0.00 at its junction with NFSR #461.

·        A section of the Bitterroot Rock Creek Divide Trail #313, National Forest System Trail #313 where it intersects Trail #77 Railroad Creek, Weasel Creek Trail #156.

·       Skalkaho Creek -Jerry Lake Trail #503, National Forest System Trail #503.