Beaverhead-Deerlodge wildfire update
In late September, the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest is continuing to manage wildfires to improve vegetation diversity, wildlife habitat while reducing hazardous fuels buildup. Closures are in effect for areas in and surrounding these fires:
· The Stewart Fire southwest of Wisdom has been active burning this week and has been producing a visible column of smoke; it is 2,900 acres and has 10 firefighters managing it.
· The Lutz Fire in the Sand Basin area is being managed to improve whitebark pine and to protect an electronics site is currently 3,982 acres. The fire is burning within established perimeter and rehabilitation efforts associated with management of the fire has begun.
· The Copper Mountain Fire in the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness is currently 1,167 acres. The western side of the fire is still active and is being monitored. Rehabilitation work associated with management of the fire has begun.
· The 41 Complex is actively burning near the Skalkaho Pass area and is being managed by the Bitterroot National Forest.
· The Whitetail Peak Fire northeast of Butte is 70 acres has not grown and is being monitored.
· The Willow Canyon Fire burning on the Idaho side of the Beaverhead Mountains in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest southwest of Lima has a 1/10 acre spot fire burning on the Montana side in the Nicholia Creek drainage. The spot fire is not growing and firefighters are monitoring the fire.
