Bielenburg Fire on Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF
Incident: Bielenburg Fire Wildfire
Released: 7/19/2009
Dillon Interagency Dispatch Center
Covering the following counties:
Beaverhead
Jefferson (southern part)
Madison
Silver Bow
Powell (southern part)
Deer Lodge
Granite
Cooperating Agencies:
USDI Bureau of Land Management
Montana Dept. of Natural Resources & Conservation
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
National Park Service
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
Beaverhead County, Madison County
USDA Forest Service
For Release Immediately
July 19, 2009
Contact:
Sonja Shadow
Office: (406) 683-3984
Cell Phone: (406) 660-2347
Sleeper Lightning Strike Awakens
Beilenburg Fire at 6:00 P.M.
DILLON, Mt. - Firefighters from the Dillon Interagency Dispatch Center (DDC) found the smoke that they were looking for last week. The lightning strke remained a 'sleeper' until this afternoon around 2:30 when it awoke and rekindled to burn what is currently estimated to be 300 acres of beetle-killed timber that lies about 10 miles due north of Anaconda.
Numerous crews and equipment are fighting the blaze that is said to have a potential of an additional 500 acres if it continues down drainage and 20,000 to 30,000 if it moves up drainage. One helicopter and two fixed wings are supporting firefighting efforts of about 60 personnel on the ground.
A closure order is in place for Bielenburg and Racetrack Campgrounds. Law enforcement officers are standing by if evacuations are necessary.
Two cabins within an old mining claim burned, and DNRC has an engine assigned to a structure about a mile from the Beilenburg Fire.
DDC has ordered a Type II Incident Management Team to manage this fire. Until the team arrives and begins operations, additional equipment is on order:
2 air tankers
1 helicopter
1 lead plane
1 air attack plane
4 hand crews
Look for periodic updates as this wildfire incident progresses. Call 911 to report a wildfire.
-END-
