Sawlog fire near Wise River now listed at 1,834 acres, 48% contained

The Sawlog fire 15 miles northeast of Wisdom has grown to 1,834 acres and is 48% contained, officials said early Saturday. Friday’s estimate for the fire had it at 1,412 acres and 30% contained. The fire is in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest and Bureau of Land Management land in the Sawlog Creek drainage.

It has been burning since May 1 and its cause remains under investigation. There are now 205 personnel assigned to the blaze, as well as 5 crews; 5 engines; 2 helicopters; 1 water tender and 3 skidgens, forest service officials said. They said an infrared flight was done Friday to determine the fire perimeter and identify areas of remaining heat.



“Based on improved mapping accuracy, the fire’s estimated size has increased to 1,834 acres,” forest officials said in a news release. Fire crews will keep working along the western and northern edge of the fire. They said the flight confirmed that heat remains throughout the fire area and the nearly 200 acre “donut hole,” or interior pocket of unburned fuels, was not included in the acreage total.

Officials said the strategic firing operations were done in the “donut hole” Friday on the north side of Sawlog Creek with Unmanned Aircraft Systems to light and burn the fuels between the fire edge and the control line on the eastern flank. They said that may continue Saturday on the south side of Sawlog Creek, reducing available fuels between the uncontrolled fires edge and the control line. Fire crews will keep working along the western and northern edge of the fire, checking any remaining heat and putting out hot spots, officials said.

Crews completed a fireline adjacent to the fire’s edge from the south side of Tucker Creek to the north side of Sawlog Creek. Firefighters, along with two skidgens, will move south with mop-up operations, working along the previously built fireline, officials said. Two spike camps are supporting smokejumpers and three hotshot crews working along the eastern flank of the fire.

Helicopters are delivering supplies by air to keep these crews equipped and operational. A boat has been to ferry firefighters across the Big Hole River on the west side. A boat has been to ferry firefighters across the Big Hole River on the west side.

This work will continue over the next few days as they focus on securing and improving containment lines. The Montana Fish, Wildfire and Parks has issued an emergency site closure for the Fishtrap Creek Fishing Access Site on the Big Hole River due to fire activity. The site is closed to public use from Mudd Creek Bridge to Sportsman’s Park.

.