Gusty winds on Sunday force ground and air resources to pull back from Beeskove fire

Sunday’s predicted weather materialized with sustained winds of more than 30 miles per hour and air resources battling the Beeskove fire were grounded due to the gusty winds for several hours and crews and aircraft were pulled from the fire line for safety.

Gusty winds proceeded to cause long-range spotting of ¼ mile to the east and southeast of yesterday’s mapped perimeter. An overnight infrared flight has mapped the fire at 115 acres.

Burning and rolling debris, due to the steep slopes, along with rugged terrain remains a challenge for firefighters.

Sunday, prior to being pulled back for safety, crews continued to establish and improve the anchor point from Rattlesnake Creek up to the fire’s perimeter. An anchor point is an advantageous location used to reduce the chance of firefighters being flanked by a fire.

Fire personnel also continued scouting, looking for opportunities to safely engage the fire in suppression efforts. Ground resources were supported with bucket drops by air resources until mid-afternoon including three Type 1, two Type 2, and one Type 3 helicopters.

Approximately 396,898 gallons of water were dropped by helicopters Friday and Saturday to support suppression efforts.

On Monday, crews intended to re-engage and continue improving containment lines on the southwest corner of the fire from Rattlesnake Creek to the fire’s edge. A reconnaissance flight and additional scouting will aid fire managers with determining full suppression activities that have a high success rate and minimize risk to firefighters.

They will be assisted by helicopters making water bucket drops, to cool and check the fire’s spread.

An additional Hotshot crew arrived late last night and will join the three Hotshot Crews, two Type II crews, and six helicopters working to contain the fire which is being actively suppressed, under a full suppression strategy. There are 126 personnel assigned to the fire.

No structures are threatened at this time.

“I directed firefighters to be deliberate and methodical while engaging and looking for additional opportunities to engage this fire. Terrain, fuel and weather conditions were not conducive to successful operations and put responders at risk yesterday forcing both air and ground resources to disengage.” said Jen Hensiek, Missoula District Ranger.

Public and firefighter safety remains a top priority. The area closure for the Rattlesnake Recreation Area, which includes numerous trails, remains in place.

Please observe the closure for your own safety and the safety of firefighters.

Visitors recreating in areas outside of the closure area could encounter fire equipment and personnel at the entrance to the main trailhead and along the main trail corridor.

There are no fire restrictions at this time. The Lolo National Forest is currently at high fire danger.

Fire managers would like to remind visitors and recreationalists to be extremely careful while visiting the forest. Pay attention to those items that may cause a spark, such as chains on a trailer. Ensure that all campfires are dead out by adding water and stirring dirt into hot coals until cold.

Remember, if it is too hot to touch, it is too hot to leave! One spark is all it takes to start a wildfire.

Firefighters have responded to 11 lightning wildfires and 23 human caused fires this summer on the Lolo National Forest.