(UPDATE, 1:58 p.m.) All trails in the Bridgers are now closed, according to a Custer Gallatin National Forest update.
The Red Cross has opened an evacuation center at Christ the King Lutheran Church for anyone displaced by the Bridger Foothills Fire.
The Gallatin County Sheriff's Office also confirms that Bridger Canyon Road is now closed from Story Mill to Jackson Creek. Only local resident travel is allowed.
We'll keep you updated as we learn more.
(1st report) The Bridger Foothills Fire northeast of Bozeman grew from 10 to 400 acres overnight, according to the Custer-Gallatin National Forest.
The fire erupted on Friday afternoon and is burning in timber northeast of Bozeman, approximately 2.5 miles up from the 'M' parking lot near the Bridger Foothills Trail.
There are at least 100 personnel assigned, along with two large air tankers, four single-engine air tankers, four helicopters dropping water and providing structure protection, two hand crews starting handline, smokejumpers, and engine crews.
Road Closures: Hwy 86/Bridger Canyon Road is closed from the intersection of Story Mill/Bridger Canyon Road to Kelly Canyon/Bridger Canyon Road. Local resident travel only permitted until further notice.
Trail Closures: All trails from Middle Cottonwood up to Saddle Peak and tying in with Bridger Bowl's southern boundary and running south to the "M" parking lot are closed including trails:
- #586 (Middle Cottonwood), #513 (Bridger Ridge),
- #534 (Bridger Foothills), #531, (Sypes Canyon),
- #511 (M trails), #532 & #530 (Bridger Bowl up to Ridge),
- #537 & #538 (Pine Creek - Bridger Bowl to South) are closed.
The Inciweb update stated that crews swept the fire area and trails to ensure all hikers and recreationists were safe.
The Gallatin County Sheriff's Office confirmed Friday that all hikers in the southern Bridgers were accounted for.
The cause of the Bridger Foothills Fire is not yet known. Click here for more details on the Inciweb site.
