Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Montana Wildfire Update For August 10, 2021

The Rosebud County Department of Emergency Services has issued an evacuation notice for the Ashland area due to the 63,000-acre Richard Spring Fire burning southwest of Colstrip. The fire is anticipated to burn to the south and east today through another 20,000 to 30,000 acres in Rosebud County.

The evacuation notice for the Ashland area includes:

  • North Tongue River Road
  • Highway 212
  • Rabbit town
  • St Labre Campus
  • Amish Community


U.S. Highway 212 from Broadus to Crow Agency and Highway 39 from Colstrip to Lame Deer both closed to traffic Tuesday afternoon. Pre-evacuations are in place for Highway 212 and Lame Deer.

There's a shelter at the Boys and Girls Club in Lame Deer, and Powder River County is in the process of setting up a shelter.

According to a 1 p.m. post from The Rosebud County Sheriff’s Office, Colstrip is not under any evacuation order or warning at this time.

The Tongue River Electric Coop posted on its Facebook page that it’s crews are busy extinguishing fires on its power poles and that power remains intact, but added, “It is very possible with the increased activity and threat to our main transmission line we could lose power. Please have understanding and patience during this time. Please make preparations.”

Copyright 2021 Montana Public Radio. To see more, visit Montana Public Radio.