Black Mountain fire grows to 185 acres

Prior to the most recent update, the fire was listed at 120 acres. There are now 175 people assigned to the blaze, according to information posted online late Saturday. There is 0% containment.

U.S. Forest Service officials said on inciweb.gov that 20-person crews, engines, heavy equipment and various overhead positions are focusing on improving fireline, clearing fuel from indirect lines previously built with dozers and feller bunchers.

“Through hundreds of hours of hard work, firefighters have successfully kept the Black Mountain Fire from moving towards the Stonewall Creek subdivision and other state and private properties,” fire officials said on inciweb. “The fire is ‘boxed in’ with direct and indirect fireline constructed around the entire fire perimeter. Ample water is available to crews via hose lays or skidgeons (a cross between a logging skidder and a fire engine) to aid in holding and improving the various firelines.”

“Firefighters also successfully held the southern end of the fire along the 819 trail, spreading out to patrol the line and apply water as needed,” officials said.

Aircraft delivered water to cool edges of the fire, allowing crews and heavy equipment to safely work along the fireline.

“Due to the large amount of heavy fuels in the area, an abundance of water is needed to extinguish pockets of heat,” U.S. Forest Service officials said, adding firefighters installed 4 miles of hose and will continue to add to water systems in the coming days.

Northern Rockies Team 8, a Type III Incident Management Team led by Incident Cmdr. Brad Bergman, assumed command of the fire at 6 a.m. Aug. 2.

It has cost $711,244 to date to fight this fire that was reported about 3 p.m. July 29, according to mtfireinfo.org. Its cause has not been determined.

Hot and dry weather is predicted for the next two days, officials said, noting a potential for dry thunderstorms with gusty outflow winds Sunday evening.

An Evacuation Warning remains in effect with access for residents only in certain areas, and the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest issued a road, trail and area closure order.