FERGUS COUNTY, Mont. (NMB) – Containment on the 12,800 acre South Moccasin Fire located northwest of Lewistown is up to 80 percent as of Friday morning.
Five structures have been destroyed, none of which are primary residences.
The fire is burning in heavy timber and grass, mostly on private land. Throughout the fire area, crews are continuing “mopping up” hot spots along the fire’s edge and are removing dangerous dead, standing trees.
Continued cooler and wetter weather in the forecast should aid suppression efforts. Minimal spread is expected, with some creeping and smoldering in the interior of the highway
Montana Highway 81, also known as the Denton Highway; and Secondary Road 426, which connects Lewistown to Hanover, have reopened.
The public is advised to slow down while driving on open roads near and around the fire area.
217 personnel are at the scene, with 31 engines, four water tenders and one dozer.
The Department of Natural Resources and Conservation’s County Assist Team assumed command of the fire at noon on Tuesday. They plan to transition command back over to local resources at 2 PM Saturday.
No evacuations have been ordered at this time.
A cause of the fire, which began just after noon on Monday, has yet to be determined.
