For the second straight day helicopters and air tankers working the 64-acre Shedhorn Fire in the Custer Gallatin National Forest have been grounded because of drones.
Fire Information Officer Marna Daley says drone incursions forced helicopters and tankers to stay on the ground Monday night and Tuesday morning. She says drones and aircraft create significant safety issues for aircraft personnel and firefighters on the ground.
Multiple aircraft including a Type 1 helicopter have been working the fire ahead of an advancing cold front and strong gusty winds Tuesday afternoon.
The Shedhorn Fire, which was first reported Monday afternoon, is burning in timber and grass in the steep and rugged terrain in the Custer Gallatin National Forest between Big Sky and West Yellowstone.
Daley says cooler temperatures Tuesday and higher humidity are helping the 40 firefighters, including smokejumpers from West Yellowstone, dig fire lines around the blaze. The fire is 0% contained.
The Horsethief Fire seven miles west of Roundup in Musselshell County is being investigated as human-caused by the Musselshell County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Land Management. A Facebook post by the sheriff’s office says they have identified a group of juveniles as persons of interest.
Musselshell County Disaster and Emergency Services reports the nearly 300-acre fire is 80% contained. Crews remain on scene and are mopping up interior hotspots.
Firefighting costs to date are $120,000.
