UPDATED: Burnt Peak Fire 13 percent contained

Sunday, 8:49 p.m.

While the Burnt Peak Fire grew to 1,977 acres on Sunday, containment increased to 13 percent, officials with the Kootenai National Forest said.

Crews were able to better work the southeast corner of the blaze after the smoke inversion cleared, according to a press release. Personnel aiding in the effort also increased, expanding to 232 firefighters, equipment operators and support staff.

Sunday, 12:38 p.m.

Kootenai National Forest officials are urging motorists to drive slowly and with the headlights on as crews battle wildfires across the county. Fire apparatus are using the roads and highways in the Troy area.

Drivers also are asked to take care when nearing the fire camp on state Highway 56, just south of the intersection with U.S. Highway 2.

Sunday, 11:16 a.m.

Firefighters working the Burnt Peak Fire spent Saturday building firelines and reducing fuels along roadways leading into the blaze.

The fire, which held at about 1,887 acres yesterday evening, is 10 percent contained, said officials with the Kootenai National Forest. A helicopter, three dozes, four engines and 184 personnel worked the fire.

Officials also expressed hope that incoming monsoonal moisture, bringing lower temperatures and increased humidity, would aid the effort in the coming days.

Saturday, 1:07 p.m.

Along with the Burnt Peak Fire, firefighters are battling several blazes in the Troy area. In an update, officials said the Ruby Fire, near Preacher Mountain, was about 50 acres. The South Yaak Fire, near Yaak Mountain, was at 15 acres.

The Coyote Fire, near state Highway 508, is at five acres and considered contained.

Saturday, 11:25 a.m.:

Slightly cooler temperatures and low winds helped firefighters build a fire line along the edge of the Burnt Peak Fire and contingency lines further from the blaze on Friday.

The fire continued to spread laterally across steep terrain and downhill reaching 1,887 acres at 10 percent contained as of Saturday morning, according to a press release from fire management officials. One helicopter, five engines, three dozers and 180 personnel were working the blaze.

Other helicopters and air tankers are splitting time between the Burnt Peak Fire and other nearby wildfires.

Firefighters observed some tree torching that ignited spot fires around the main fire. These conditions are challenging since smoldering spot fires could go unnoticed until temperatures rise and winds increase.

Firefighters continued to use roads or other natural barriers to limit fire spread and increase their chances of containing the blaze. Crews are using masticators and other equipment along roads to reduce fuels.

Structure protection specialists will be inspecting properties near the fire to help develop long-term management plans. As of Saturday morning, officials had not issued any evacuation notices. Some residents have received pre-evacuation notices.

Officials have reduced traffic speeds on Montana Highway 56 near the fire camp. Drivers should use lights when traveling through the area and should expect increased traffic, especially in the mornings and evenings.

Friday, 12:23 p.m.:

Local U.S. Forest Service officials handed oversight of the Burnt Peak Fire to a type two incident management team as the blaze grew to 1,716 acres on Friday.

Great Basin Team No. 4, led by Incident Commander Tim Roide, set up camp along Highway 56, south of the intersection with U.S. Highway 2. As of Friday morning, firefighters had the blaze, which is burning roughly eight miles southwest of Troy, 10 percent contained.

While officials had issued pre-evacuation notices to some residents, they had not ordered any evacuations, according to a press release from the incident management team.

“All residents in the area should be ready to evacuate should this fire or another make evacuations necessary,” the release read.

Locals can find information on being wildfire ready online at the Ready, Set, Go website.

Along with protecting infrastructure, timber and private property along North Fork Keeler Creek and U.S. Highway 2, fire managers are working to keep the blaze out of drainages and terrain that could allow flames to spread. As the fire enters its third week, officials are laying out long-term management plans to combat it.

Forest Service officials closed the North Fork Keeler Creek, Keeler/Rattle Creek and Lime Butte roads for the safety of firefighters and the public.

Officials had four engines, three dozers, one helicopter and 110 personnel on the fire as of Friday. Additional helicopters and air tankers are available to battle the fire and other nearby blazes including the Ruby Fire, which officials said had reached 50 acres early Friday afternoon.

Managers have ordered more resources to the Burnt Peak Fire including crews and helicopters. Resources remain scarce due to a regional and national shortage.

The Burnt Peak Fire started on the morning of July 17 after a storm cell passed over the Keller Rattle area. Firefighters have had to contend with steep terrain and no shade relief as they battled the blaze on a south-facing aspect.