The Horse Gulch fire burning northeast of Helena since July 9 was listed as 100% contained Friday, fire officials said, adding less resources are needed and they are turning over management of the fire to the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest.
The fire, which has burned 15,167 acres, still has areas within the interior of the control lines that will smolder until the area receives a significant amount of moisture, but there is not heat within close proximity near control lines, fire officials said in an email.
The start of human-caused blaze remained under investigation.
A fire crew replaces T-posts and barbed wire fencing on a property where a dozer line had been built in the Horse Gulch fire.
They called Friday’s posting from the U.S. Forest Service, the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and U.S. Bureau of Land Management “the final update for the Horse Gulch Fire.”
They said the containment came after “weeks of hard work by local, regional and national fire fighters.”
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“Containment does not mean that the entire area of the fire is out, so smoke may be visible at times, but the risk of the fire escaping control lines is minimal,” fire officials said in an email.
They said the fire area has experienced a lot of wind and this wind has even been stirring up ash and dust that has the appearance of smoke. It is the equivalent of 26.3 square miles.
“However, despite this, the fire has not flared up or challenged the control lines which verifies that the control lines are strong,” they said, adding that fire managers often refer to this as the fire being “wind tested.”
“Since the fire has been contained and wind tested along with control lines having been repaired, less resources will be required to keep watch on this fire,” they said, adding management of the fire will transfer from the Type 3 organization now overseeing and handed over to the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest at 6 a.m. Saturday.
The Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest will monitor and patrol the fire line for the foreseeable future, officials said.
The fire, located about 5 miles south of York and 2 miles north of Canyon Ferry, at one time had nearly 600 personnel assigned. Ninety-five were listed on the fire Friday.
Some Forest Service roads and trails remained closed Friday. However, evacuation warnings for the fire have been lifted.
The Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest entered Stage 1 fire restrictions July 20 due to persistent hot and dry conditions increasing the threat of wildfire danger. It will continue through Sept. 30 unless rescinded.
The fire has been fatal as a firefighting pilot from Idaho died July 10 after her plane crashed into a mountainside near Hauser Reservoir. The aircraft fell into the lake.
Assistant editor Phil Drake can be reached at 406-231-9021.
