Update: 09/02/20, 10:30 p.m.
Fast moving wildfires prompted evacuations in several areas of central and eastern Montana Wednesday.
Northwest of Helena, residents in the Birdseye Road area returned to their homes after an evacuation order Wednesday afternoon. The Red Cross set up a shelter at Helena First Church and the Lewis and Clark County Fairgrounds opened to livestock owners.
Across the state, the Rosebud County Sheriff’s Office evacuated residents in and around Ashland Wednesday night. Firefighters are responding to several large burns in Rosebud County.
Southeast of Roundup, Musselshell County sheriff officers evacuated residents north and south of Fattig Creek Road Wednesday night as firefighters worked two wind-driven fires in the area. A shelter has been opened in Roundup. Musselshell County Disaster and Emergency Services says evacuated residents may be able to access their homes Thursday afternoon, weather and containment permitting.
In Garfield County, residents in Jordan and Cohagen were able to return to their homes Wednesday night after the human-caused, wind-driven Huff Fire threatened structures and jumped several roadways. Crews responded to flare ups throughout the night.
Firefighters responded to several other large fires in eastern Montana that started during Wednesday's extreme fire conditions.
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As of 6:45 p.m. fire officials say it is safe for Jordan residents to return home, after the Huff Fire jumped Highway 200 and skirted town, forcing evacuations. The fire is located roughly 6 miles south of Jordan, which was evacuated this afternoon along with nearby Cohagen. The Cohagen area is still under evacuation. Officials ask that people stay off Highway 200 in town to make room for emergency vehicles.
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Outside of Helena, first responders are evacuating residents north of Custer Avenue, south of Lincoln Road and west of Green Meadow Drive due to a fast-moving fire near Birdseye Road.
Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton didn’t know the size or exact location of the fire as of 5 p.m.
"The wind is variable, and the fire is variable. It looks like it’s right here, but I can’t tell,” Dutton says.
Franklin Mine Road is temporarily closed to bring in firefighting equipment. Dutton says many volunteer fire departments are on the scene. The Helena Fire Department also sent crews to the fire.
All residents north of Custer and south of Lincoln Road and west of Green Meadow are being asked to evacuate the area immediately due to a rapidly moving fire. The Sheriff's Department says, "Do not call 911 for information."
Across the state, Garfield County Disaster and Emergency Services is directing residents in Jordan and Cohagen to evacuate and head west of town out of the Huff Fire’s path. The fire is threatening buildings.
Evacuation shelters have been set up at Fairview Hall in Brusett and the Petroleum County Courthouse in Winnett.
McCone Electric has shut off power in Jordan, population roughly 400.
According to Garfield County DES, a landowner started a burning project late this morning on private agricultural property northwest of town. The Garfield County Sheriff Office initially determined the fire was under control of the landowner and private resources. But within hours the fire was reportedly burning out of control.
The area is under a high wind warning through 8 tonight and red flag warning through midnight.
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Firefighters are pulling resources to fight a number of large wildfires in eastern Montana that all started around midday. All of the fires were initially reported on private land.
The Miles City Interagency Dispatch Center reports the 10,000-acre Oil Fire is located 53 miles northwest of Hysham in Rosebud County. The 15,000-acre Snider Fire is also on private land in Rosebud County, 20 miles north of Ashland. Federal, state and local resources are on scene at both fires.
The Rosebud County Sheriff’s Office said at 5:15 pm on Facebookthe Snider Fire had crossed the Tongue River into Custer County.
Federal resources are also responding to another fire north of Ashland, the 5,000-acre Rice Fire.
The Billings Interagency Dispatch Center reports a 1,500-acre fire in the Sarpy area of Big Horn County. The Bureau of Indian Affairs is responding with federal and county resources on scene.
The Lewistown Interagency Dispatch Center reports state resources are on the scene of a 1,000-acre Louse Fire in Judith Basin County west of Lewistown.
This portion of Montana is under a red flag warning until midnight with gusty, erratic winds up to 50 mph.
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