Fire Update: August 8, 2018
Virginia Creek Fire Update:
The lightning caused Virginia Creek fire detected on August 2 at approximately 12:45 p.m. is currently 67 acres in size and is burning in heavy concentrations of mixed conifer (sub-alpine fir,
Engleman Spruce, lodgepole pine) fuels with very heavy concentrations of standing dead trees and logs on the ground and is 15% contained.
Resources from the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, MT DNRC, and the Madison Valley Volunteer Fire Department working on this fire are: 47 personnel including: 4 engines, 2 Water Tenders, 1 Helicopter, and one 26 person hand crew. The fire is located approximately five miles west of McAllister, in the Virginia Creek drainage.
Fire personnel are working to keep the fire from advancing past the Meadow Creek and Virginia Creek roads and from burning over the ridgeline above the fire on the southeast side. By this afternoon, firefighters will have a hose lay around the perimeter of the fire and will continue mopping up the edges of the fire for any hotspots.
Virginia Creek Road #1249 and trail #6314 have been closed in order to provided for the safety of firefighting personnel and public. Smoke will be very visible from Norris Hill south to Ennis for the next few days to come.
Goldstone Fire Update:
The lightning caused Goldstone fire, detected August 2, is approximately 125 acres. The fire is burning in a high elevation basin near Goldstone Pass. It is 0% contained and is located approximately five miles west of Reservoir Lake near Goldstone Pass in the Bitterroot Mountains, near the Montana and Idaho border. The fire is located in steep mountainous terrain and is burning in heavy mixed conifer fuels (sub-alpine fir, Engleman Spruce, lodgepole pine) with very heavy concentrations of standing dead trees (snags). Firefighting personnel from the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest are constructing hand line at the head of the fire tying into the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) and a timber task force of heavy equipment is working to construct a fuel break along Forest Road #7402.
Due to this active fire, there is an area closure (Order #2018-D1-008) south of Forest Road #7327, east of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, north of the ridgeline between Eunice Creek and Park Creek, and west of Forest Road #7402. Forest Road #7402 and Trail #1144 are closed. Forest Road #7327 and the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail currently remain open with an optional reroute for hikers. For more information of the reroute contact the Dillon Ranger District (406) 683-3900.
