Single Publication

      Hog Trough Fire

July 29, 2022 Update

Acres: 611 acres

Start Date: July 17th, 2022

Cause: Lightning

Origin Location: 18 miles southeast 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: 159

Resources Assigned: 4 Hand Crews, 2 Helicopters, 4 Engines, 2 Skid Engine, 2 Excavators, 2 Water Tenders

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. Forest Service 711 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 611 acres and is burning in the Sapphire Wilderness Study Area (WSA) on both the Bitterroot and Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forests. It is burning in remote, rugged terrain with no structures threatened and no evacuations in place. Due to significant safety threats and inaccessibility, firefighters currently are not directly engaging the fire on the ground.

Planned Actions: Heavy equipment will continue thinning and pruning vegetation along FS 75 Road to create a shaded fuel break along West side of the fire. Crews and equipment will also be working along Railroad Creek Road and FS 711A. Hand crews will remove overgrown vegetation along Skalkaho Creek-Jerry Lake Trail #503. Trail improvements to the #8013 trail will continue to the East with a desired goal of using this trail and natural features, such as meadows, to tie this into FS 5070 Road as a containment feature. 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 majority of the fire growth occurred later in the afternoon yesterday. Fire activity will be moderate with creeping and smoldering fire behavior. As soils and vegetation in the timbered stands dry out, more open flame will occur. The eastern portion of the fire will continue to burn through down woody debris. Fire will spread to the west and make short, uphill runs on south aspects.

Weather: Cumulus clouds will develop over the mountains today with a 20% chance of thunderstorms. Outflow winds from the anticipated thunderstorms may increase fire spread and intensity. Temperatures near the fire will be in the mid-80s with relative humidity values remaining near 20%.

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 5070 and FS 711 Roads are 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.