Single Publication

Northern Rockies Team 3, Incident Commander Mike Behrens 
Location: One mile west of Stevensville, Montana in Ravalli County
Start Date: 8/23/2024
Cause: Lightning   
Size:   1,367 Acres
Completion/Containment:  0 percent
Resources assigned: 558 people

KEY MESSAGES
•    We encourage non-fire personnel to stay out of the evacuated neighborhoods so that firefighters can safely do their jobs without interference.
•    Personnel assigned to this incident are well-supplied with food and Gatorade. People interested in donating can go to local volunteer fire departments.

CURRENT STATUS
Crews conducted firing operations to clean up some interior unburned pockets near the southeast corner of the fire yesterday evening. Burnout operations are likely again today to secure the south and eastern perimeters. The UAS (uncrewed aerial system, or drone) will augment the firing operations being carried out by crews on the fireline. Heavy helicopters will continue to support the personnel on the ground with water drops as needed. Firefighters will plumb the dozer and hand line on the south side of the fire (along the ridge where retardant was dropped last Friday) prior to ignition. Structure assessments and protection actions for the residences nearest the eastern edge of the fire are underway, with the installation of water pumps and hoses. Further south, fire managers are scouting for tertiary line locations near the McCalla Creek drainage.
Crews will continue to hold the eastern edge and patrol the affected neighborhoods during night shifts. They also have initial attack responsibilities.
There are temporary flight restrictions (TFR) over the fire area west of Highway 93 from Bass Creek to Big Creek. 

WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR
High pressure dominates the area with temperatures in the 70s on the Bitterroot Face and 80s on the valley bottom. Relative humidity will be 20-25%. Gentle upslope winds are expected at 4-8 mph. Fire behavior today will be limited to flanking, backing and isolated small group torching. Short uphill runs can be expected with rollout of burning debris. Potential spotting distance is one tenth of a mile. 

SMOKE
For the current smoke reports, visit https://www.airnow.gov/   

EVACUATIONS, RESTRICTIONS, CLOSURES 
The Ravalli County Sheriff’s Office has issued evacuation orders and warnings for neighborhoods in the vicinity of the Sharrott Creek Fire. For the latest status and an evacuation map, visit the Ravalli Co. Sheriff’s Office website: https://ravalli.us  Evacuation questions can be directed to the Ravalli County Emergency Operations Center at 406-375-6650.