Update at 7:44 p.m. MDT June 15, 2021
The satellite photo taken by GOES 16 at 7:41 p.m. MDT June 15 shows an enormous smoke plume from the Robertson Draw Fire spreading to the northeast. It is heading directly to Billings, the lights from which can be seen through the smoke.
To see all articles on Wildfire Today about the Robertson Draw Fire, including the most recent, click HERE.
5:13 p.m. MDT June 15, 2021
The Robertson Draw Fire 9 miles south of Red Lodge, Montana is burning vigorously Tuesday afternoon, producing a very large smoke column easily seen on satellite photos.
Tuesday morning firefighters estimated the size at 2,000 acres but that number could be very different by the time the sun sets.
The fire is in south-central Montana one mile north of the MT/WY state line, and five miles east of the famous switchbacks on the Beartooth Highway, US 212.
Evacuations and evacuation warnings are in place for multiple areas near the fire. Firefighters expected a critical fire weather day on Tuesday with Red Flag Warnings in effect due to the hot, dry, and windy weather conditions. According to the Type 3 Incident Management Team, the Gold and Ruby Creek areas were re-evacuated Tuesday morning.
The fire ranges from 7,000′ above sea level up to 9,300′.
About 80 firefighters are working to suppress the fire. Resources include hand crews, engines, helicopters, a rappel crew, and support personnel. Air tankers are assisting firefighters as needed and available. A Type 2 Incident Management Team has been ordered.
Another fire in Montana, the Deep Creek Fire, is 128 miles northwest of the Robertson Draw Fire, and 40 miles southeast of Helena. It is also burning vigorously, east of Townsend on both sides of US 12. This first photo shows what it looked like on June 13.
#DeepCreekFire update: We are in unified command with Montana DNRC and a Type 1 team has been ordered. Highway 12 is closed east of Townsend. Please avoid the Deep Creek Canyon area. pic.twitter.com/AQ0OHcw9kg
— Helena-Lewis&ClarkNF (@LewisandClarkNF) June 15, 2021
To see all articles on Wildfire Today about the Deep Creek Fire, including the most current, click HERE.
Why don’t they get scoopers going on the Deep Creek fire? Being so close to Canyon Ferry Lake, the scoopers could make short work of it.
Reports of a fire fighting helicopter going down near Townsend Mt on the Deep Creek Fire
https://fb.watch/693yRPwLuW/
https://www.google.com/amp/s/nbcmontana.com/amp/news/local/dnrc-helicopter-crashed-fighting-deep-creek-fire
Thanks. More info is at Fire Aviation:
https://fireaviation.com/2021/06/15/helicopter-crashes-while-working-on-the-deep-creek-fire-in-montana/
We live near Fox,Mt. Well done on the set up on your part. This reminds me of the
summer of 88. Will pray to Mother Nature to give us a rain break! About 3” worth.
Thank you!
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