Firefighters are battling two large wildfires amid red flag conditions in southeast Montana Thursday.
The nearly 600 acre Gass Flats Fire and the 600-800 acre Tolluck Fire are burning within two miles of each other southeast of Custer in southeast Montana. The two fires are separated by steep and rough terrain.
Treasure County Disaster and Emergency Services reports 5 air tankers including a D-C 10, 20 engines, 3 20-person hand crews, 5 water tenders and 3 dozers are on scene of the two fires.
Fire crews are dealing with 95 degree temperatures, 10 percent relative humidity, 45 mile an hour winds and dry conditions.
The cause of both fires is unknown and both are zero percent contained.
Mop up work is underway on the 24 acre Sarpy Fire (the second fire named "Sarpy" this season) in Big Horn County, 16 miles southwest of Colstrip. That fire started on private land Wednesday morning.
The 451 acre Graveyard Creek Fire burning 24 miles southeast of Forsyth in Rosebud County is 60 percent contained. Eleven air tankers, 4 engines and one helicopter are working the lightning caused fire that is threatening nine structures. The fire was first reported on Tuesday.
Two thirds of Montana and all of Wyoming are under a red flag warning until 9 tonight because of extreme fire behavior from hot temperatures, low humidity, strong gusty winds and very dry conditions.
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