Crews get upper hand on fire near Wise River

A local fire crew works to protect lines at the Pioneer Fire- USFS photo(WISE RIVER)- Quick work has enabled fire crews to make significant progress on a wildfire that burned about 45-acres along the Big Hole River in just a few hours. 

The Pioneer Fire broke out late Monday afternoon on private and BLM land along MT-43 west of Wise River. 

Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest reports the fire spread rapidly in the gusty winds threatening a number of buildings as it jumped the highway. At one point, authorities were still allowing vehicles through, but were advising people coming to and from Wisdom to consider taking the long way around. 

As many as 30-personnel were working the fire, helped by a helicopter and two Forest Service engines, with volunteer firefighters on the scene as well from Wise River, Wisdom and Dillon. 

By 9:30, crews had been able to contain 75% of the fire. Work is expected to continue through the night. 

Access re-opening near Mustang Fire

Low intensity burning has blackened the ground in many areas of the Mustang Fire- Tom Berglund photo(NORTH FORK, ID)- The Forest Service is gradually re-opening access to some of the areas closed for weeks because of the Mustang Complex Fire, burning along the Montana-Idaho border. 

The fire has consumed nearly 340,000 acres since several large lightning fires burned together in August. 

Now, the Forest Service is re-opening more roads and trails in the Salmon River side of the fire, although some areas remain closed to public access near Lost Trail Pass. In the upper West Fork of the Bitterroot, Hughes Creek and Alta have been re-opened. But the popular Horse Creek-Hot Springs Loop remains closed.

For more information see All Points Montana's story. 

Snow falls on Condon Mt Fire

Snow on Swans a good sign for firefighters on Condon Mt blaze- USFS photo(CONDON)- A solid two inches of wet snow is helping to calm the Condon Mountain Fire burning in the Swan Valley, finally slowing activity on the stubborn fire that’s been burning for weeks. 

The blaze has been burning along the western edge of the Swan Range since it was started by lightning back in late July. The fire has shown different phases of activity, driven by weather conditions, ever since and has burned just under 5,300-acres. 

The fire had been more active last week in the unusually warm daytime temperatures. But fire crews were able to limit its spread, and now Mother Nature is helping as well. The National Weather Service reports as much as two inches of snow fell across the fire from the cold front that moved through Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. 

The Forest Service is continuing to work on mop up, but is starting to downsize the resources that have been assigned to the blaze. The larger, Type 2 team that’s been working the blaze will be moved out on Thursday, replaced by a local Type 3 team. 

Evacuation orders lifted on Montana side of Mustang Fire

(DARBY)- With colder weather coming and fire conditions calming down, Ravalli County authorities have decided to lift evacuation warnings for the upper reaches of the West Fork of the Bitterroot. 

People who have cabins and other properties had been under a Stage 1 Evacuation Alert for several weeks, since the massive Mustang Complex Fire started burning on the Idaho side of the Bitterroot Divide. Some of that fire, which burned more than 300,000 acres, came onto the Montana side. 

Today, Sheriff Chris Hoffman and the Mustang Fire Incident Management Team decided to lift those warnings for residents of Hughes Creek and the Copper Draw areas of the West Fork. 

Those were the last standing evacuation orders in place in Ravalli County. 

Millie Fire quiets down, trails re-opening

Map showing reduced closures near Millie Fire- USFS map(BOZEMAN)- The season is almost over, but fall hiking enthusiasts got some good news this weekend with the Forest Service deciding to re-open some of the trails near the Millie Fire south of Bozeman. 

The fire burned over 10,000 acres around the popular Hylite area in the Gallatin National Forest, after being sparked by a lightning storm in late August. The fire is 87% contained. 

All Points Montana reports the Forest Service has now re-opened many of the roads and trails in the vicinity of the fire, with the exception of the South Cottonwood Drainage, where firefighters are still involved in mop-up operations.