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Trail Ridge Fire

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Unit Information

420 Barrett St 
Dillon, 
59725 
420 Barrett St 
Dillon, 
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 17, 2022

Trail Ridge Fire
Publication Type: News 10/17/2022

 

Trail Ridge Fire Update

October 17, 2022

Incident Commander: Josh Hansen

Incident Commander (t):  Ian Fowler

 

 

Start Date: August 26, 2022 Cause: Lightning Size: 18,021 acres 

Type: 4   Completion: 78%

 

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.

 

The fire is currently 18,021 acres according to the Infra-Red flight from last night.  The fire is actively burning in the Hilltop and Four B Creek Drainage areas.  Two medium helicopters are doing buckets drops of water near Hilltop and Four B Creek to help cool and slow the progression of the fire.  The fire is also burning previously unburned fuels inside the current fire perimeter near Prairie Creek and Gibbons Pass and smoke is visible in these areas. According to Incident Commander (t) Ian Fowler the fire remains within the containment lines.

 

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 an active fire area closure which includes Mink (FS 5763) and Meadow Creek Roads (FS725) and a portion of the Continental Divide Trail.

 

WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR

Today through Friday the weather is expected to be sunny and warm, with highs in the mid 70’s and lows in the mid 30’s.  Precipitation is forecasted for Friday night and into Sunday, with a possibility of snow on Sunday.  Winds will be out of the north/northwest 5-7 mph.

 

CLOSURES AND SPECIAL MESSA

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

     Hunters in the fire area need to be aware of the potential for falling snags.   The Trail Ridge Fire will be updated when significant events occur.