Seven smokejumpers deployed to tackle lightning-caused wildfires
EBS STAFF
Updated July 15 at 7 a.m.
On Sunday, July 14, the Custer Gallatin National Forest posted an update on the Boat Mountain, Boat Mountain 2 and Beaver Creek fires. The Boat Mountain Fire is 1 acre in size, at 75% containment and is being monitored by firefighters. The Boat Mountain 2 Fire is 100% contained at 1/10 of an acre. The West Yellowstone Smokejumpers, who have been managing the Boat Mountain and Boat Mountain 2 fires, will demobilize Sunday. The Beaver Creek Fire is 100% contained at 1/10 of an acre, and the Kootenai Rappelers on that site will hike out Monday.
Total personnel on the three fires was 16. The Refuge Point Trail parking area has been reopened.
Updated July 13 at 4 p.m.
On the afternoon of July 12, a band of dry lightning moved through the Madison Range, igniting three spot fires in the Beaver Creek and Cabin Creek areas off U.S. Highway 287, about 15 miles northwest of West Yellowstone. Smoke from the fires is currently visible from U.S. 287 and from Hebgen Lake.
According to a post on the Custer Gallatin National Forest Facebook page, the Boat Mountain Fire was identified on July 12 at 5 p.m. when an isolated burning tree was spotted. As of Saturday afternoon, it is currently one acre in size and located along a ridge top burning heavy timber in rugged and steep terrain. According to the post, seven West Yellowstone smokejumpers are on scene and they plan to utilize the rocky cliff to anchor a containment line on the remaining sections.
“A group of smokejumpers has engaged in direct tactics on that fire to attempt to keep it as small as possible,” said Robert Spence, incident commander for the Boat Mountain and Beaver Creek fires, in a video update posted on the Facebook page.
Boat Mountain 2 Fire is one-tenth of an acre in size, burning along a ridge top in “extremely rugged and steep country, which is very difficult to access,” the Facebook post explained. Due to the terrain, a rappel crew was ordered to access the fire from the air.
The Beaver Creek Fire is one-tenth of an acre, and located mid-slope on the west side of Beaver Creek in the Lee Metcalf Wilderness. It is located in an area “riddled with avalanche slide paths, which is very difficult to access,” the post stated.
The cause of all three fires was determined to be lightning, and all are 0% contained. There are currently 15 personnel and one helicopter on scene. Due to the amount of lightning that passed through last night, the post also explained that personnel will be flying a detection flight this afternoon to watch for other starts.
There are currently no evacuations in place or structures threatened. The Refuge Point Trail parking area is temporarily closed so crews can use the area for aviation operations.
“Thank you to our partners in our community, including Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks’ game warden and the Hebgen Fire District for their assistance in locating these fires and protecting our community,” Spence concluded in the video update.
