Firefighters are bringing in heavy equipment to build containment lines around the nearly 1,800 acre Burley Fire 11 miles west of Broadus in Powder River County. Some 15 structures are threatened but as of this afternoon none have been destroyed.
The fire burning in timber and short grass was first reported Tuesday afternoon on private land but has now expanded to Bureau of Land Management land. The fire is working its way through the Rough Creek area and is showing extreme fire behavior. The cause of the Burley Fire is unknown. It’s zero percent contained.
Federal, state and local firefighters were able to limit growth of the Yogo Fire burning in the Little Belt Mountains to 50 acres yesterday. Crews now estimate the fire at 3,000 acres. The minimal growth was despite strong gusty winds and hot temperatures Tuesday from a red flag warning.
Air tankers, helicopters, engines and crews from federal, state and local resources are planning aggressive actions today to keep the fire from spreading.
Evacuation orders for the Yogo Fire have been lifted but there are closures in the Helena Lewis and Clark National Forest around the fire.
Fire crews from both the Burley and Yogo Fires will have to deal with critical fire warnings tomorrow ( on Thursday), with possible record high temperatures for October, along with low humidity, strong gusty winds and very dry fuels.
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