GALLATIN COUNTY — The Bridger Foothills Fire grew to 7,100 acres as of Sunday night, according to Inciweb. There are now 140 personnel assigned to the fire and there is no containment.
Highway 86/Bridger Canyon Road is closed from Story Mill to Sedan. Evacuations in effect for Kelly Canyon, Jackson Creek and all of Bridger Canyon. Moffitt Gulch, Quinn Creek, O’Rea Creek, Willow Creek, Fleshman Creek, Stone Creek, Skunk Creek, and Brackett Creek are under evacuation warnings.
Evacuated Bridger Canyon residents will temporarily be allowed to return to their residences on Monday, September 7 between 8 a.m. and noon. Full details of requirements and rules for residents can be found here.
Firefighters were able to assess structures and continue to provide structure protection where the fire went through on Saturday and ensure embers around houses were extinguished. Direct handline was constructed along the heel of the fire, on the southwestern edge of the fire. The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office and Structure protection on the fire has confirmed structures have been impacted and lost. Follow-up with homeowners is being done as soon as possible.
As of Sunday morning, all unaccounted residents were reported safe; now the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office is working on keeping residents away from the scene.
“We’re trying to keep everything as clear as possible. So right now that’s our focus and then also we have fire movement. But I have also just been told that we have warned everyone and cleaned everyone out so things are looking really good,” said Gallatin County Sheriff Brian Gootkin.
Some of the biggest concerns now: winds that are picking up and the fire approaching Bridger Bowl Ski Resort.
We asked Sheriff Gootkin for a report on the number of homes that have been damaged and he said, “Dozens. Easily. I’ve driven up through there and it’s pretty devastating. We’ll have a better idea tomorrow with the weather to go up through and get a better count.”
On Sunday afternoon, officials held a public meeting and said the cooler weather should help, but it won’t solve all the problems. “This fire is going to be here. We’re going to continue to manage it through the long-term. Throughout September. Even when that fire is completely out and when we’re able to get that thing contained, we’re still gonna be working with this fire,” said Corey Lewellen with the U.S. Forest Service.
Three firefighters were forced to deploy fire shelters before crews got them out and transported to Bozeman Health. They were said to be in good condition as of Saturday night. One hotshot crew member was struck in the chest by a rolling rock and was treated and released from the hospital.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. People who want to donate in support of fire relief efforts can find a list of options here.
