Single Publication

Public Meeting – Friday, September 16th, 7:00 PM, Noxon Volunteer Fire Department

The Bull Gin Complex is currently 3,673 acres and 0% contained.

Government Fire: 2,284 (NE of Noxon, MT)

Billiard Fire: 1,112 acres (NE of Heron, MT)

Isabella Lake Fire: 277 acres (Cabinet Mountains Wilderness)

The Bull Gin Complex received a wetting rain across the fire complex significantly reducing fire activity yesterday. Rain affected road conditions limiting travel and use of heavy equipment until early afternoon. Once conditions cleared, Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) modules collected aerial observations and infrared assessments to support on-the-ground firefighting efforts. Firefighters observed little to no growth of the fire yesterday.

Government Fire: The fire area received less than a quarter inch of rain. Firefighters and heavy equipment continue fuel removal along the 150 road in the Rock Creek drainage. To the southeast, hand crews utilize chippers to reduce slash from check lines within the 2763 road system. Firefighters will patrol, monitor, and secure control lines to the west and southwest. In the northwest, the fire is holding along Government Creek. Today, crews and heavy equipment will continue mastication and chipping of heavy fuels along on the 150 road in Rock Creek area. Night operations patrolled the Government Creek Road and southern dozer line. The Rock Lake Fire is controlled and in patrol status.

Billiard Fire: Over a quarter inch of rain substantially reduced fire activity. Where fire has reached control lines on the west side from Fatman saddle north, hand crews are “mopping up” or extinguishing areas of heat working 30 to 60 feet interior from the control line. Hand crews and heavy equipment are constructing additional check line at the top of the 2293 road system. Mastication and fuel removal will continue along Fatman Road. Engines will patrol structures in Blue Creek, Blue Creek Bay, Hillside Lane, and Fatman Road.

Isabella Lake Fire: The fire remains unstaffed and monitored.

Evacuations: On September 8th the Sanders County Sheriff’s Office placed the residents along Government Mountain Road and Timber Ridge Road into pre-evacuation status. Please sign up for Sanders County Emergency Alerts at 406-203-0082 to stay informed on the status of emergency conditions.

Closures: Government Mountain Road and the Rock Creek Road are closed to the public. Access is limited to residents and fire personnel only. The Noxon Refuse Site is open regular hours. Area, road, and trail closures are in place for the Government, Billiard, and Isabella Lake Fires to provide for public safety and firefighting operations. See Inciweb for maps and closure descriptions.

Weather: Temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees with light and variable winds from the west. Outlook is dry and partly cloudy with a slight chance of showers in afternoon. 

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