Core Details
- Authorities expanded evacuation orders around the Sand Creek fire in southwest Montana.
- The Go status order means residents must leave immediately due to immediate danger of wildfires.
- Dillon – The ski lift at Maverick Mountain Ski Area was damaged by the wildfire Monday evening.
- Fire crews are working hard to try to save Elkhorn Hot Springs and many private structures threatened.
You might think this is new, but you have seen fire warnings like these before. The Beaverhead County Sheriff’s Office has issued a Go evacuation status from Billings Creek north extending from Polaris to the Subdivisions Ma Barnes is located in.
The Go status order also includes Mountain View and Highboy Drive along with Sawtooth Road and Clark Creek Road.
And that specific phrasing carries weight because it means the area faces immediate danger of wildfires. Residents must leave immediately when you see this directive on your screens or radios today.
Ski Resort Damage Confirmed
DILLON – The ski lift at Maverick Mountain Ski Area was damaged by the Sand Creek wildfire Monday evening.
The chairlift and a small ski shack took hits while Beaverhead County Sheriff David Wendt confirmed the fire spread up the peak of Maverick Mountain.
Sheriff Updates on Lodge Safety
The sheriff added that the Maverick Mountain ski lodge was not damaged in the fire as of Tuesday afternoon.
Maverick Mountain Ski area confirmed Tuesday on its Facebook page they received a big thank you to all people on front line.
Evacuation Orders Expand Rapidly
The Sand Creek Fire is raging just two miles from Elkhorn Hot Springs where fire crews are working hard.
Crews protect cabins from growing Sand Creek Fire after evacuation order while the Grasshopper Valley looks a bit like Bannack.
Historical Ghost Town Comparison
An evacuation order was issued Aug. 8 for portions of that area ever since then it has been looking ghost town.
The fire blew up to almost 16,000 acres recently according to Bobcat Lakes and Sand Creek fires Public Information Officer Chris Joyner.
Fighting the Blaze with Local Resources
“Over the weekend that fire had all right things it needed to really get big really quickly” said Chris Joyner.
The fire is only about half size of Bobcat Lakes Fire which More than 300 personnel are trying to contain this.
Innovative Protection Tactics
Crews working on structure protection by placing water lines around evacuated cabins in Grasshopper Valley area.
“We’re using their own water we’re using their own creek they’re own resources” Tri Lake Fire firefighter Kevin Kleinworth explained.
Beyond the Immediate Danger
Crews are trying to protect recreation sites such as Elkhorn Hot Springs and Maverick Mountain Ski area from encroaching flames.
“We’re expecting every day this week after today to start losing elements of extreme fire weather behaviors” Joyner said.
Facing the Weather Front
Planes dropped retardant in area while crews cut back brush trying slow spread of the fire.
A lot houses are sitting empty while people out-of-state calling asking hey what status my house is like it’s eerie there always cabins waving nobody here.
Closing on Community Response
The sheriff noted Wendt has been getting a lot calls from people out of state about their property.
In the evacuated area crews working protection while hoping for help Mother Nature might provide this week.