Fire Watch

UPDATE: Firefighters halt forward progress of Allen Fire

Posted: Sep 10, 2012 5:00 PM by Q2 News
Updated: Sep 11, 2012 7:37 AM

UPDATE: Firefighters have constructed fireline around most of the Allen Fire, but are casting a wary eye on the weather forecast, which calls for wind gusts upwards of 30 to 35 mph tonight.

"We've stopped forward progress of the fire," said Derek Yeager with the Montana DNRC. Yeager believes there were no structures lost in the blaze, and several homes were saved by the firefighters.

Still, Yeager predicted it would take several days' work to make sure the Allen Fire stays put, and the red flag warning in effect until midnight tonight will surely test the firelines - and the firefighters working to secure them against the winds, which are predicted but have not yet materialized over the fire.

Fire officials estimate 95 percent containment on the fire but due to wind conditions, that could change. DNRC Severity engines provided huge relief of fighting the fire. Dozer lines surround the blaze.

The Allen fire is estimated at 350 acres but a more precise number will be available after better mapping tomorrow. The blaze is believed to be lightning-caused. No injuries have been reported.

ROUNDUP - A new fire is burning in Musselshell County this afternoon.

Currently, 25 to 35 structures are threatened by the Allen Fire, which is burning in grass and timber north of the Delphia Pines Subdivision, about 10 miles northeast of Roundup. The new fire is burning north of the area where the Delphia Fire burned 40,000 acres earlier this summer.

Montana DNRC firefighting resources are responding to the fire, estimated at 300 to 400 acres. The DNRC sent 12 engines, a water tender, a dozer, a helicopter and two airtankers with bird dog (lead plane).

The fire is believed to be lightning-caused.