Fire Watch

Sarpy Hills Complex burning 51,000 acres on Crow Reservation

Posted: Aug 2, 2012 5:30 PM
Updated: Aug 2, 2012 8:56 PM

UPDATE: Fire now at 51,000 acres.

CROW AGENCY, MT - Several fires on the Crow Reservation merged into one large fire.
Red flag wind warnings could challenge firefighters battling what is now known as the Sarpy Hills Complex.
The biggest fire was the East Sarpy, burning south of the Westmoreland coal mine on Sarpy Road and northeast of Crow Agency.
Early estimates today put the fire between 20,000 and 40,000 acres.
The East Sarpy fire has merged with the Little Dry Creek, the Dawes, the West Tullock, the South Tullock, the Cottonwood and the Castle Rock Two fires.
An evacuation order was in effect yesterday for the Castle Rock Ranch and the BIA does not know if that has been lifted.
A Northern Rockies Incident management team is in on scene and is expected to take over management of the fire at 6:00 Thursday night.