Fire shuts down Beartooth wildlife area southwest of Great Falls as archery season approaches
Karl PuckettA 300-acre fire in northern Cascade County closed the Beartooth Wildlife Management Area two-and-a-half weeks before archery season begins for deer and elk.
The Shellrock fire is 56 miles southwest of Great Falls off of Interstate 15 in the state-run Beartooth WMA and nearby ranchlands five miles north of Beaver Creek Road and two miles west of Middle Creek Lake.
The concern now is that the fire in heavy downed timber will spot into other timbered areas if the wind picks up, said Crystal Beckman, a public information officer working at the fire.
"It's burning in high elevation so it's hard to access," Beckman said.
A high-voltage power line, a pipeline, two ranch cabins and the historic Hump Cabin are in the area but not threatened at this time, the state Department of Natural Resources and Conservation said Tuesday.
The cabins are being used as "spike camps" for firefighters.
Most of the fire is burning in the WMA but a portion is also on the Sieben Ranch.
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The fire began as a lightning strike Saturday.
Initial attack efforts were thwarted by rugged terrain and remote location where the fire started.
On Sunday morning, 14 U.S. Forest Service smokejumpers arrived and anre now working the fire along with two DNRC engine crews, Beckman said.
Two single-engine air tankers also assisted on the fire Sunday.
On Tuesday, firefighters plan to patrol and secure the perimeter, work on spot fires and prepare for a burn operation if weather conditions.
"So there could be the possibility of smoke visible this afternoon from surrounding areas," Beckman said Tuesday morning.
Deer and elk archery season begins Sept. 1 and fire managers are anticipating alot of telephone calls, Beckman said.
"As soon as we can get that open we will," she said of the BeartSept 1–Oct 14
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