A wildfire northeast of Helena has burned about 168 acres by Tuesday night, officials said.
The Horse Gulch fire was reported at 1:32 p.m., according to mtfireinfo.com.
The Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest reports the fire is south of York.
“… fire behavior has been active due to winds,” the Forest Service said on Facebook. They said they have engines and a helicopter on scene.
There was no containment listed as of 7:31 p.m.
“Our crew is currently working a wildland fire in the vicinity of Holiday Gulch,” the The York Volunteer Fire Department posted on Facebook. “This is the first sizable fire of the season.”
They asked people to avoid Jimtown Road.
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The Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office posted on Facebook about 8:30 p.m. that there have been no evacuations, but that area residents should prepare to evacuate should conditions change. They asked people to not call 911 for information.
There are now 20 fires burning in Montana, with 632 reported so far this year, mtfireinfo.com said on its website.
The National Weather Service said earlier this week to expect more fires as the higher temperatures that hit the area in the past couple days will accelerate the seasonal drying of fuel such as grass and other vegetation
No further information was immediately available.
Editor’s note: Story updated to correct number of fires so far this year.
Staff Writer Phil Drake can be reached at 406-231-9021 or phil.drake@helenair.com.
