Black Butte Fire 70-percent contained

Havre Daily News staff

The Bureau of Land Management reported Saturday that no new growth occurred on the Black Butte Fire in southern Blaine County east of Landusky on the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument,

Containment of the 460 acre fire was estimated at 70 percent Saturday, the bureau said in a press release.

The lightning-caused wildfire, located on BLM-managed lands near the Missouri River about 20 miles west of Landusky, had a Type 2 crew assigned to the fire, including multiple overhead units and engines. About 70 personnel from the BLM, U.S. Forest Service and Montana Department of Natural Resources were working together to fight the fire Saturday, the release said.

The fire was first reported Tuesday at about 1 p.m., when smoke was spotted in the Ervin Ridge area of the BLM’s Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument. BLM North Central Montana District wildland firefighters initially responded. A Type 3 Incident Management Team, led by the BLM, assumed command of fire operations Wednesday. 

With cooler weather and some precipitation over the fire Saturday, wildland fire-fighting crews continued to construct a line around the perimeter of the fire. With the fire’s reduced complexity, it is now classified as a Type 4 incident.

Recreationists are advised to continue avoiding the area and not operate unmanned aircraft — drones — in the vicinity, the release said.