Air Tankers Catch Fire Near Divide, Mont.
Incident: Pump Station Wildfire
Released: 7/31/2008
DILLON, MONT., July 31, 2008, 9:45 p.m.-Air tankers and their fire retardant have removed the threat the Pump Station fire, northwest of Divide, Mont., posed to nearby homes.
Earlier, firefighters estimated there were15 homes threatened by the fire. The number was revised to eight, but now with the good work by air tankers, the number of structures threatened by the fire is zero.
Retardant drops by the air tankers based in Helena and water drops from three helicopters have put down the fire on its south, west, and east flanks where it was burning in grass and sagebrush.
The fire is still active on its north flank, at the head of Charcoal Gulch, in trees.
That's where firefighters will concentrate their work on Friday (August 1). They will also be mopping up on the other three flanks of the fire.
The fire is now estimated to have burned 150 acres.
Eight firefighters will spend the night at the fire and in the morning they will be joined by 40 more for the tough work in the timber.
The fire was reported Thursday afternoon, about 18 miles southwest of Butte and just north of Montana Highway 43.
It's burning on private land and on land administered by the Bureau of Land Management.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Five air tankers-two single engine air tankers and three larger multi-engine tankers-all based in Helena, made retardant drops of the fire Thursday afternoon and evening.
Three helicopters assisted, along with a lead plane for the air tankers and an "air attack" airplane.
Fire engines from several Southwest Montana communities and several wildland fire agencies responded.
For more information about the Pump Station fire, go to http://www.inciweb.org/incident/1446/
