500 acres destroyed in wildfire near Havre

Several fire agencies responded to a large field fire south of Fresno Road between Havre and Kremlin on the Fresno High Grade earlier today. After almost three hours of battling flames, a patchwork group of local departments and neighboring farmers were able to extinguish the fire – but not after losing around 500 acres of wheat and pasture.

Bear Paw Volunteer Fire Department Chief Josh Beebe said the firefighting effort went well despite the losses of crops.

"We managed to corral it," he said. "It was starting to get into some pretty rough country. ... I'm happy with the way it turned out."

Bear Paw received the call to the fire at 5:06 p.m. and Bear Paw and Kremlin fire departments responded to the scene. Bear Paw took up one side of the fire and Kremlin Volunteer Fire Department attacked the other.

As the flames grew, a number of other departments responded to the scene as well, he added, including Box Elder, Gilford, Wildhorse rural fire departments and Havre Fire Department. Bebee said that a total of 19 fire trucks responded at the scene, six of which were from Bear Paw. Several landowners and neighbors also assisted with fighting the fire, bringing trucks and 18-wheelers with water tanks to help contain the blaze.

Beebe said that the fire was contained and extinguished by 8 p.m. and a few departments were standing by at the scene "mopping up" the area, while firefighters go around the affected area looking for hot spots and extinguishing them so the fire doesn't reignite.

A fire last week outside of Big Sandy was reignited after burning inside a tree for over half a day after the flames were thought to be gone.

Bebee said that the fire was started by a farmer running a combine on the wheat field.

Reuben Scheuerman, a farmer who teamed up with fellow local Ryan Riley to help fight the fire, said fires are just a part of living in Montana. He added that it's bad luck for a combine to start a fire - making note that he's been in multiple combine fires.

Scheuerman also said the ability for farmers to team up protect their land is exactly why nearly all local farmers and ranchers have the equipment to fight wildfires.

Beebe said that farmers and all local residents should be cautious of fire hazards during this time of year as high temperatures and low humidity plague the Hi-Line.

"With the hot temperatures we've been getting last week and going to continue with, it's drying out real quick and it doesn't take much for something to get going," he said. "Everybody needs to be vigilant and careful. If they are out in the tall grass, just pay attention to what they are doing and hopefully we'll have a good season."