Multiple fires at Missouri River Breaks National Monument

Two wildfires were reported in parts of the Missouri River Breaks National Monument Thursday.

Blaine County is listed as the point of origin for the Lone Tree Fire while Fergus County is listed for the Sunshine Fire by the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. 

Al Nash, spokesperson for the Bureau of Land Management’s state office for Montana and the Dakotas, said Thursday the Lone Tree Fire north of the Missouri River has been mapped at 250 acres.

The DNRC’s interactive fire map indicates the Lone Tree Fire improved to 70 percent containment as of 4:34 p.m. Thursday. 

Nash said the Sunshine Fire south of the Missouri River is 35 acres and it is fully contained. The DNRC reported the Sunshine Fire contained as of its most recent update at 4:57 p.m. Thursday.

Nash said neither fire was a danger to people or private property in the areas. Causes of both wildfires remain undetermined by the DNRC at the time of this writing. 

“Both of these fires are burning in wilderness study areas in an area west of, roughly west of Landdusky and west of Highway 191. So there’s very limited development in those areas. No threat to people,” Nash said.

“Again, we’re talking about fires that are in wilderness areas, it’s public lands. So there certainly could be impacts to wildlife habitat. But it’s not burning on any private property, not threatening any private property and because these are wilderness study areas, there’s very limited infrastructure,” he continued.

“The initial response on those fires, we had some engines and single engine air tankers, as well as a helicopter,” Nash said Thursday afternoon.

As of the 4:34 p.m. update Thursday concerning Lone Tree, the DNRC reported 40 personnel had been assigned while no figure was listed for the Sunshine Fire.

Timber was reported by the DNRC as the predominant fuel group for the Sunshine Fire. Timber, specifically grass and understory, was reported by the DNRC as the primary fuel model for the Lone Tree Fire.

Nash said, as of the release of the Northern Rockies Geographic Area Morning Report Wednesday, 10 new small fires and seven large fires were reported in Montana.

“There were no issues finding the appropriate type and amount of resources to attack, either the Lone Tree or the Sunshine Fire. I know there have been some challenges getting resources desired for some of the other large fires in Montana,” Nash said.