Big Knife Fire Update

­­­July 28, 2023

Start Date: July 24, 2023                   Cause: Lightning

Location: 5 miles east of Arlee, Montana.

Estimated Size: 631 acres     Containment: 0%    

Personnel: Overhead Personnel

Incident Command: Local Type 3 organization, Art Trahan, Incident Commander.

Closures: The Canal Road from Mountain Home Road to the Jocko Canyon is closed. 

No Evacuations at this time and No structures are threatened.

Yesterday:  Aviation resources were used to drop retardant on the adjacent ridge to the south of Blodgett Creek.  This is a contingent line if the fire should cross Blodgett Creek and move upslope to the south.

Current and Planned Activity: The fire is consuming thick standing and dead timber that has not seen fire in several decades.  It is also burning in a remote area where firefighters are not able to access. This presents significant safety concerns for firefighters working to keep the fire confined to a small footprint. Their work entails taking proactive measures to protect structures several miles from where the fire is burning in case a weather event pushes the fire west, into the lower elevations of the Jocko Valley. Helicopters will continue to work on the southwest flank to check the fire near Blodgett Creek. 

 Weather: Today- Partly Cloudy. Temp- 85-90 valleys and 65-70 ridges. Relative Humidity- 12-22 percent valleys and 19-29 percent ridges.  Wind- Becoming upslope/upvalley 4-8 mph late in the afternoon. Ridge top… West 5-15 mph in the afternoon.

TEMPORARY FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS: A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place for air space over the Big Knife Fire to provide a safe environment for firefighting aircraft operating in the area. Remember that temporary flight restrictions also apply to unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) or drones. If you fly, we can’t!