Firefighters Reinforce Containment Line as Red Flag Weather Approaches
Incident: Millie Fire Wildfire
Released: 9/8/2012
Bozeman, MT - The Millie Fire, twenty miles south of Bozeman, is now 40 percent contained and remains at 10,205 acres. Firefighters continued their efforts today on strengthening existing containment lines in advance of weather that may cause fire growth.
A Red Flag warning due to hotter temperatures, lower humidity and stronger winds from the southwest is expected to arrive tomorrow afternoon and continue through Tuesday.
Today the west flank was cool, with no new heat along the containment lines. On the north side, firefighters worked east toward South Cottonwood Creek to secure the containment line. Once again, large helicopters dropped water in the upper end of South Cottonwood Canyon. On the south side, a three acre spot fire crossed the containment line two and a half miles west of Hyalite Ridge. Helicopters supported handcrews as they diligently worked to re-establish the line around the spot.
While large helicopters dropped water, smaller helicopters shuttled gear and personnel from a spike camp in South Cottonwood Canyon to another spike camp on the north side of the fire.
Structure protection forces installed pumps and hose lays around Forest Service cabins and other structures in Hyalite Canyon.
Today there are now 15 crews, 12 engines, four helicopters, seven dozers and one water tender working on the fire. A total of 545 personnel are assigned to the incident.
Although very little smoke was observed over the past few days, fire remains very active in many areas, creating unsafe conditions for the public. Predicted weather poses the very real possibility of increased activity. While many Gallatin National Forest users are anxious to get back into the forest, closures remain in effect for several reasons. Roads and trails within the fire area are heavily used by fire traffic, making them unsafe for the motoring public.
Additional fire Information meetings may be scheduled if the need arises. For more information, please call (877)405-0033 or (877)390-4323.
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