Firefighters continue work on fire in Little Rockies

Firefighters continue today to fight the Pine Grove Fire in the Little Rocky Mountains, gaining some headway with cooler weather and rain in the last week, with an update this morning saying the fire is 58 percent contained, with the increase mainly on the fire’s southeast edge.

The update said crews today will confirm on the fire’s perimeter information provided Sunday in an infrared flight which showed heat only in the interior of the fires area.

Agency authorities this morning also will discuss the need for evacuation warnings in the communities of of Zortman, Landusky, Pine Grove, Star Hill and Lodge Pole. If the evacuation warnings are lifted this information will be released later today on InciWeb at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7812 .

Mission Canyon, White Cow Canyon and Coming Day roads and the roads going to Camp Creek Campground and Witcom Cabin are closed.

The mandatory evacuations of Zortman, Pine Grove and Starhill were lifted last Thursday after rain and cooler weather helped with firefighting efforts. Residents of those communities were told that they may return to their homes but are requested to be ready to evacuate if fire conditions deteriorate.

 The evacuation centers in Hays and Malta have closed.

The fire started last Monday three miles northeast of Hays from a structure and spread into the wildland. 

The InciWeb page said the fire is human-caused and the cause is under investigation.

By late Tuesday morning wind pushed it to more than 10,000 acres and triggered mandatory evacuation notices for the communities of Pine Grove, Zortman and Starhill and Level 2 evacuation notices were put in effect for the communities of Hays and Lodge Pole.  

During this initial period, the fire destroyed one structure, where the fire started. Structure assessments are on going.

The fire moved through grass, timber, and brush on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation and Bureau of Land Management land.

Due to the complexity of the incident, a Type 3 Incident Management Team took command of the fire Thursday.

Firefighters from Fort Belknap and other cooperating agencies performed initial attack on the fire, working hard to save structures and ensure people were safe. Primary spread was to the south-southwest towards the mines. 

The Fort Belknap Indian Community declared a state of emergency Wednesday.

The incident team was briefed to follow and implement the guidance outlined in the Fort Belknap Indian Community COVID-19 Reopening Plan. specifically, social distancing measures are encouraged and wearing of masks are required while indoors.

The team was briefed to place high priority on protecting communities, ranches, individual properties, cultural and natural resources.

Fort Belknap Tribe is accepting donations to support those impacted by the fire. Please drop supplies at the Kills at Night Center in Hays. Contact Maggie Werk with questions at 406-301-4583.