Robertson Draw Fire
A Montana man pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to sparking the 30,000-acre Robertson Draw Fire south of Red Lodge last month.
The state is charging John Lightburn of Bridger with two counts of felony negligent arson. He’s also accused of misdemeanor criminal mischief. He appeared in Carbon County District Court on Wednesday before Judge Matthew Wald, who continued his bail of $7,500. Lightburn pleaded not guilty to all accusations.
Prosecutors say the 55-year-old sparked the flame when fixing his motorbike in an area of the Custer Gallatin National Forest that is off-limits to motor vehicle traffic. Lightburn had been riding the bike there before the incident, court documents say.
Whitten Fire
The Bureau of Land Management Miles City office says the Whitten Wildfire in southeast Montana is contained. The fire, estimated at 1,300 acres, is burning on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation, as well as the Bureau of Land Management and private lands. It was first reported on July 3 and the cause is unknown.
Wheeler Fire
No structures are threatened by 2 lightning caused fires in the Custer Gallatin National Forest, reports forest service officials. Fire crews are enforcing fire lines and continuing mop up efforts on the Wheeler Mountain and Blacktail Fires. The Wheeler Mountain Fire is about 7 miles southeast of Gallatin Gateway in the Bear Creek area, and the Blacktail Fire near Blacktail Peak at the northern end of the Bridger Mountains. Both fires are listed at less than an acre in size.
Box Elder Fire
Thirty firefighters are working to protect some 21 structures threatened by the Box Elder Fire burning on private land roughly 20 miles northwest of Broadus in Powder River County.
Mark Jacobsen with the Bureau of Land Management’s Miles City office reports grass, ponderosa pine and juniper are fueling the 1,700-acre fire. Jacobsen says fire crews have dropped retardant on the fire and built containment lines on parts of the fire, but did not know the size of the containment. The cause of the fire is unknown.
Robertson Draw and Crooked Creek Fires
Containment lines are holding steady at 65% on the 30,000-acre Robertson Draw fire just south of Red Lodge in Carbon County.
Ranch Fire
Federal, state and local firefighters are working to contain a 2,100-acre coal seam-caused fire in Custer County in southeast Montana.
The Ranch Fire is one of three coal seam-caused wildfires burning in that region.
Custer County Fire Warden Bud Peterson says the Ranch Fire, 35 miles south of Miles City, was reported early Wednesday afternoon. It is burning in grass and dead and downed trees on the site of a previous burn.
Three helicopters, firefighters, engines and bulldozers working to secure containment lines around the fire.
The fire warden says they are slowly making progress but no word yet on containment.
NRCC meteorologist: Heatwave could jumpstart MT wildfire season
A large percentage of western Montana already is in abnormally dry to drought conditions and the intense and prolonged heatwave has the Northern Rockies Coordination Center concerned as we sit on the cusp of wildfire season.
By: Russ Thomas
and last updated 2021-06-28 19:00:34-04
MISSOULA â A large percentage of western Montana already is in abnormally dry to drought conditions and the intense and prolonged heatwave expected in the coming days has the Northern Rockies Coordination Center (NRCC) concerned as we sit on the cusp of wildfire season.
âWeâve already had three heatwaves which is unusual for this time of year anyway, this third heatwave is different because itâs more prolonged and itâs also very extreme in terms of magnitude, NRCC Fire Weather Meteorologist, Coleen Haskell said.