A wild fire burning on the edge of southern Jefferson and northern Silver Bow counties grew to roughly 68 acres on Saturday, but officials say the fire, while active, has stayed within retardant lines.
As of late Saturday, the Blacktail Canyon Fire was burning nearly 4 miles southeast of Butte, between Highway 2 and Interstate-90, near Homestake Pass. The fire was first reported on Friday, Jul 19, and the fire crews were able to receive substantial air support. Very Large Air Tankers (VLATs) were able to drop retardant around the fire, and helicopters and “water scooper” planes performed multiple water drops Friday and Saturday. The fire is burning in what Jefferson County DES Coordinator Doug Dodge describes as “some of the worst dead and down [in] the Forest.”
Steep, inaccessible terrain has hampered firefighting efforts, as well. Three HotShot crews have hiked into the interior and begun digging lines, according to information on Inciweb. Dodge said, “Hotshot crews may have found access to establish an effective anchor point, but direct fire attack is significantly hampered by access limitations and fuel conditions. Indirect fire line options are also limited due to the location of the fire and the extensive hazardous fuels.” Officials from Butte-Silver Bow have been working with local fire departments to identify and protect structures in the Blacktail Canyon, Passmore Canyon, and Toll Mountain areas.
At this time, there are no active evacuation orders in place, but Dodge warned that current weather conditions may change rapidly, with possible afternoon thunderstorms and winds in the forecast. Dodge encouraged Jefferson County residents to stay alert to changing conditions, and stay informed and be aware that fire direction and intensity could change quickly.
Because the fire is clearly visible from major highways, fire officials are asking motorists to refrain from stopping along roadways, which can significantly impact firefighting operations.
