Single Publication

Northern Rockies Team 3, Incident Commander Mike Behrens

Location: Three miles west of Stevensville, Montana in Ravalli County

Start Date: 8/23/2024

Cause: Lightning  

Size:   1,458 Acres

Completion/Containment:  0 percent

Resources assigned: 558 people

KEY MESSAGES

• Heavy smoke production from burnout operations is likely to occur this afternoon.
• An emergency closure is in place for portions of the Stevensville Ranger District.

Current Status

Several hotshot crews and the Uncrewed Aircraft System (drone) conducted extensive burnout operations Friday afternoon to secure the south and east perimeters of the Sharrott Creek Fire. Heavy helicopters supported the personnel on the ground with water drops, especially along the north edge. Firing will continue today as conditions allow, bringing black down to the established control lines above the Silverthorn drainage and on the east side of the fire. Firefighters will also hold and patrol control lines adjacent to areas with recent burnout. Structure assessments and protection actions for the residences nearest the eastern edge of the fire are complete. Further south, fire managers are improving secondary lines near the McCalla Creek drainage.

Additional resources will join the night shift in holding the eastern edge and patrolling the affected neighborhoods. 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

The combinations of hot, dry and unstable conditions will lead to increased fire weather concerns. The weekend will have high temperatures about 10 degrees above average. Gentle upslope winds are expected at 3-6 mph. Fire behavior today will be limited to flanking, backing and isolated small group torching, especially as fire reaches patches of subalpine fir.   

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. The Bitterroot National Forest has issued an area closure from North Fork Sweeney Creek to Sweathouse Creek. See the Bitterroot NF website for the order and map.

Do not fly personal drones over the fire area. This endangers our pilots and will force air operations to cease their suppression actions.