Forest Fire Season at Full Alert

The Incident Management Team on the Bear Creek Fire on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest reported the 6,000 acre forest and brush fire was active on its southern edge in the hot, dry and windy conditions Monday. Officials reported the fire had not crossed the 1881 Road. The smoke plume is visible from Dillon, the Big Hole and west in Salmon, Idaho (photo above).

Meanwhile, on the Bitterroot National Forest, three small fires were extinguished this past week. Officials thanked the public for helping put out an escaped campfire and forest service patrols discovered other abandoned campfires throughout the valley. Again, make sure your campfire is completely out and cold to the touch before you leave your campsite.

West of the valley, about 10 miles west of Lake Como, the lightning-caused Cub Lake Fire burned about an acre and a half in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness. As of Monday morning, no smoke was visible from the fire in the Moose Creek Ranger District of the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest. Bitterroot National Forest fire danger is at the top end of the "High" danger category. Dry thunderstorms and continued hot temperatures are forecast this week.