The Billings Gazette reported today that wind gusts of up to 40 mph pushed Montana fires through mixed timber and grasslands, prompting evacuations for residents south of Livingston and south of Roscoe.
The Pine Creek Fire south of Livingston is estimated at more than 2,500 acres. Evacuations have been ordered; the Park County Rural and Paradise Valley VFDs, along with resources from the USFS and Montana DNRC are responding. Several other fires in Montana are under red flag warnings for strong winds and low RH.
“We declared a state of emergency due to the severity of fire,” said Park County Commissioner Randy Taylor. “It has spread so fast over such a vast area threatening numerous structures. If it gets too much farther into the timber, there’s going to be no stopping it.”
KXLH News (fire photo alert) reported that the 19-Mile Fire near Whitehall has burned several structures; residents in the Toll Mountain area were evacuated. A DNRC spokesman, Greg Archie, said the fire burned between 1,000 and 3,000 acres in less than 24 hours. “Fire conditions are at their peak right now,” he said, “and things aren’t going to get any better today for sure.”
