Updated at 5 p.m.
Robertson Draw Fire
Authorities investigating the Robertson Draw Fire south of Red Lodge have arrested a suspect and are charging him with arson.
55-year-old John Lightburn of Bridger faces charges of felony negligent arson, felony criminal mischief and misdemeanor negligent arson for his alleged involvement in starting the now-30,000 acre fire, according to documents Carbon County Attorney Alex Nixon filed Wednesday.
Charging documents say a U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officer discovered Lightburn’s motorbike, burns and other evidence while investigating an area off-limits to motor vehicles the day the fire was reported June 13.
Nixon says Lightburn may have started the fire when he attempted to fix his motorbike’s flooded engine while riding in the Robertson Draw area.
He says Lightburn then created a spark that allegedly started the fire. According to charging documents, the flame spread through dry grasses and sage and grew rapidly in temperatures over 90 degrees and dry, windy conditions.
Lightburn is being held in the Gallatin County Detention Center, according to the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office, and is awaiting arraignment.
Deep Creek Fire
The 4,600-acre Deep Creek Canyon Fire southeast of Helena is 90 percent contained, according to firefighters’ latest estimates.
Crews are shifting resources to secure the fire’s northwest perimeter as others mop up remaining hot spots.
Vigilante Electricity Cooperative has repaired 52 power poles in the Grassy Mountain subdivision and expects to return power to the area Thursday after fixing six remaining poles, according to the utility’s Facebook page.
As of Tuesday, evacuation orders were lifted in the subdivision and all other impacted areas in Broadwater and Meagher counties.
The number of personnel on the fire dropped 15 percent from Tuesday to Wednesday. The blaze has cost $4.7 million to fight so far, according to a news release.
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