Fire Watch

Crews hold containment steady on eastern MT fires

Posted: Jul 10, 2012 7:30 AM by Q2 News
Updated: Jul 10, 2012 2:23 PM

BILLINGS- A fire update Tuesday morning shows crews across the region continue to work toward the containment of area wildfires.

The Ash Creek Fire, which has now been burning for 15 days, remains 95% contained for the second day in a row.

However, the Ash Creek Fire did not grow since Monday, as the latest size estimate of the Ash Creek Fire still sits at 249,562 acres.

The Taylor Creek Fire, which started southeast of Fort Howes one week ago, remains at the same containment level as Monday.

Crews working on that 62,134 acre fire hope to continue on the current 75% containment on Tuesday.

Of the smaller fires burning in the southeastern region of Montana, the Coal Seam Fire northwest of Busby has been completely contained, and crews continue to gain the upper hand of the Powerline Fire and Horse Creek Fire-both of which stand at 95% containment.

Weather may play a factor in firefighting efforts Tuesday as a Red Flag Warning is in effect for much of the region due to high temperatures, low humidity and likelihood of dry lightning storms later in the afternoon.