Wildfire watch
New fire dashboard launched by Governor Gianforte
Montana Governor Greg Gianforte recently announced the launch of a statewide fire dashboard created to keep residents and visitors up to date on the ever-changing wildfires across the state.
The new dashboard includes a quick look at all active wildfires as well as more detailed information on fires greater than 100 acres, including size, percent contained, and fire cause. It also includes information on the total number of fires and acres burned in Montana this calendar year.
As of August 2, there were 88 active fires in Montana, with 13 starts in the last 24 hours. There have been 1,794 fires this year, with more than 468,158 acres burned to date this year. In the past week alone, the number of acres burned has doubled across Montana.
The new dashboard can be accessed at mtfireinfo.org, a site launched by DNRC in June to keep Montanans and visitors to the state updated on current fire restriction information.
In Southwest Montana, within the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, a number of wildfires continue to burn including some new starts resulting from early August lightning storms.
In the Madison District, The Goose Fire, 32 miles south-southeast of Ennis, is 80% contained with no major reports issued since July 27.
In the Wisdom/Wise River District the Alder Creek Fire was surveyed at 10,624 acres with 10% containment. Crews are constructing fire line and providing structure protection for cabins and sites along the Wise River and Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway.
Also in the Wisdom/Wise River District, The Trail Creek Fire is 35,111 acres. Engines are chipping materials along Forest Road 73, maintaining and exercise structure protection systems in the area, and enhancing plans for primary, alternate, and contingency control lines and features.
In the Dillon District, the Black Mountain Fire is 1,038 acres. Crews are patrolling the fire perimeter to address potential hotspots. They are improving Selway Creek Road to the east as well as prepping the Snowshoe Hare Road with hand tools and heavy equipment to build fire line.
For information on closures related to the wildfires visit https:// www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/bdnf/ alerts-notices.