A helicopter flight Sunday above the Grouse Fire southwest of Wise River mapped the wildfire at 2,600 acres, roughly equivalent to 4 square miles.
A Sunday update from the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest had put the fire at about 2,097 acres. Personnel assigned to the fire numbered 234 Monday.
“Fire activity has increased to the south towards Pettengill Creek and north toward Grouse Lakes,” the Forest Service reported Monday.
Fire behavior was moderated Sunday but the Grouse Fire still made a push north toward Grouse Lakes, the agency said.
The Forest Service said “crews continue to secure and ‘mop-up’ all residual heat adjacent to private lands near Pettengill Road” and other crews continue to work with structure protection equipment near residences.
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“Additional resources are expected to extend structure protection, improving fireline from Pettengill Creek towards Reservoir Creek,” the Forest Service said.
The creek is named for George Pettingill, though the spelling of the last name often differs in historical accounts. He was known in the late 1800s as the Wild Man of Wise River for living off the land, rejecting authority and convention and embracing life as a recluse who sometimes frightened people he encountered in the woods, streams and fields.
Meanwhile, firefighting vehicles and equipment are evident in the vicinity of the Pettengill recreation area off the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway.
The fire camp is closer to Wise River, in the vicinity of the Wise River airport.
In 2021, firefighters gathered there to fight the Alder Creek Fire, which ended up being 36,968 acres, and the Trail Creek Fire, ultimately estimated to be 62,013 acres. Ultimately, crews in 2021 headquartered out of Dillon because communications were better.
On Monday, the Forest Service said “active fire behavior is expected to continue with movement primarily up the Grouse Creek drainage and sub-drainages.”
