The fire season began early this year with the Sawlog Fire, which ignited on May 1st and burned 2,030 acres before it was fully contained. Following that, the Banana Lake Fire, discovered on May 31st, consumed 833 acres and is now completely contained.
Currently, attention has shifted to the Hilger Valley Fire, which was first spotted on June 9th at 2:10 pm by local and DNRC engines approximately 20 miles north of Helena, near the Gates of the Mountains along Interstate 15. This fire has been burning in challenging, steep terrain covered in timber and grass.
As of June 13th, the Hilger Valley Fire has burned 295 acres and is 77% contained. Firefighters are actively engaged in mop-up operations, working up to 132 feet into the fire perimeter to extinguish any remaining heat. They employ a gridding and cold-trailing technique to carefully inspect the ground for any hot spots, using hand tools to dig down to bare soil and ensure those areas are cooled. Fire resources are being supplied through hoses, a skidgen, and helicopters to support these operations.
Please continue to check the Great Falls Gazette for updates as we strive to provide you with information throughout the fire season.
Author: Karen Anderson
Karen is the Editor-in-Chief overseeing all news operations at Foxys Publishing Co. She also loves photography and spending time with her dogs.
