Firefighters on the 3,900 acre Yogo Fire in the Little Belt Mountains are preparing to face another Red Flag warning on Saturday, with hot temperatures, low humidity and strong gusty winds in the forecast for central Montana.
Four helicopters and 127 firefighting personnel continue to work the north and south ends of the fire to prevent spread towards the recreational structures in the Middle Fork and Dry Wolf Creek areas. Air tankers are stemming the fire’s growth in the Elk Creek and Appraisal Ridge areas.
The Yogo Fire is zero percent contained and the cause is under investigation.
Firefighters continue to work the Hubbart Dam Fire near Marion. The 120-acre blaze is estimated as 10 percent contained as of this morning.
Fifty-three personnel are working to establish containment lines around the fire.
Montana Department of Natural Resources’ Kalispell Fire Management Officer Jeremy Pris said Thursday "there are structures within two miles of the fire. At this point, things are looking good. We’re trying to get that containment number up for the winds that are forecasted through today and tomorrow."
Pris says this fire is coming late in the season but the large fire growth is still possible with strong winds and dry conditions.
Weather forecasts call for rain and snow over the weekend, but in the meantime, fire danger remains high for the lower elevations of Flathead County.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The 3,400 acre Burley Fire burning in Powder River County is now 70 percent contained. The fire, which began on private land 11 miles west of Broadus, is burning in timber and short grass. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
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