Fire Season Opens Early in Broadwater County
Author: MT 43 News Staff Reporter
Fire Season Opens Early in Broadwater County
MT 43 News Staff Reporter
With heat indexes in the upper 90s last week and moisture levels very low, Broadwater County has jumped into the summer fire season early
The Horse Gulch Fire, which began July 9, was apparently human-caused, according to a Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest Service release. By Tuesday the fire had increased to 13,299 acres. Containment was at 10 percent.
The blaze tiptoed into Broadwater County on Sunday forcing two Broadwater County families to evacuate, according to Broadwater County Sheriff Nick Rauser. In an interview, Rauser said one of the homes at Magpie Gulch and one near the county line close to the highway were evacuated. No structures had burned, as of this writing.
Rauser reported the retardant-dropping planes were able to stop the fire before it reached houses in the area, but the fire was still “0 percent” contained. “The fire was growing 1,000 acres a day in the beginning because of the high heat and strong winds. The overcast day on Sunday really helped slow the spread of the fire,” he said.
By Monday, July 15, Rauser reported all evacuations in Lewis & Clark County were back in their homes; the evacuated family at Magpie was still out of the area.
Broadwater County services who worked on the fire were Disaster and Emergency Services and at least eleven officers from the Sheriff’s office. The county commissioners also were there for updates. Rauser said his officers helped with roadblocks and any other help Lewis and Clark Sheriff’s office needed.
Depending on the wind and heat, the Forest Service hopes to begin containment by the middle of the week. Canyon Ferry Road remains closed to the public from Canyon Ferry Village to the Broadwater County Line. For more information contact (406) 924-3858.
Article Images
Click on Image Thumbnail(s) to view fullsize image
PhotoCredit: Helena-Lewis & Clark National Forest File Photo
Image 1 Caption: Horse Gulch Fire near Cave Ridge Trailhead
Helena-Lewis & Clark National Forest File Photo
