Pine Grove fire in Little Rockies 98 percent contained

The Pine Grove Fire in the Little Rocky Mountains is 98 percent contained and demobilization of resources deployed to fight the fire is under way, an update on the InciWeb Pine Grove Fire page said this morning.

The fire, which was detected Aug. 16, has burned 16,004 acres, burned at least one structure — where the fire started — and led to the evacuation of the communities of Zortman and Pine Grove.

The evacuations were lifted after rain and cooler weather helped fireghters’ efforts to contain the blaze, the the post this morning said the evacuation warnings for Zortman, Landusky, Pine Grove, Star Hill and Lodge Pole will lift tonight at 8 p.m.

Incident command was taken over by a state Type 3 Team last week, but the county assist team will be transitioning the fire over to a Type 4 Team managed by Fort Belknap Agency Wednesday at 6 a.m. the team will be composed of an incident commander, one 20-person hand crew, and six engines.

Monday, firefighters cold-trailed the fire’s perimeter to confirm information provided from an infrared flight. The flight showed minimal heat only in the interior of the fire area, the InciWeb pages said. Resources on the fire include two 20-person hand crews and nine engines. Monday, crews worked hard and the result was increased containment to 58 percent, it added. Increased containment occurred along the fire’s southeast edge.

The fire started Aug. 16 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 last 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.