Road Closures at South Bitterroot Forest Fires

The Nelson Creek Fire in the West Fork Ranger District of the Bitterroot National Forest is now over 200 acres with 125 firefighters, four engines, two helicopters with buckets and heavy equipment on the line.

According to Tod McKay of the Bitterroot National Forest, the fire is burning in heavy timber and besides earlier evacuations, some road closures have been added.

The Gemmell Creek Road #5633 at its junction with the Nez Perce Road and Barn Draw Road #373 at its junction with the West Fork Road.

A section of the Nez Perce Road was closed earlier, resulting in closure of the Magruder Road to the west.

Firefighters are setting up hose line along Nelson Creek and are continuing structure assessment and protection along Nez Perce Corridor.

Meyers Fire

In the East Fork, a Public Meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday, September 1, at the Sula Community Clubhouse concerning the Meyers Fire, which burned into the eastern end of the East Fork of the Bitterroot River this week.

The 23,337-acre fire has been burning for over a month south of Philipsburg and made a large run this week. An Evacuation Warning has been issued for residents on East Fork Road from Forest Service Road 5778 to Little East Fork Road #724. The East Fork Road and areas east of the East Fork Guard Station are closed.

The other fires:

The fires around the area include the Lolo Peak Fire at 39,461 acres, The Rice Ridge Fire at 33,365 acres, the Liberty Fire at 14,710 acres, the Sunrise Fire at 25,837 acres, the Sapphire complex at 40,135 acres, and the Gilbralter fire at 6,568 acres.

In the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, west of the Bitterroot Valley, the Hidden Fire is now a half mile from the wilderness boundary and is at 7,909 acres. The Moose 1 Fire is at 14,344 acres, and the Lone Pine Fire is at 7,302 acres.

Air Quality levels at mid-morning Thursday, August 31, were Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups in Hamilton and Missoula.