LAME DEER – A fire in Lame Deer that burned 1,700 acres on Sunday is now contained.
According to a press release from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the fire started Sunday afternoon, forcing road closures, and threatening structures and homes in town.
The release states, that it’s not clear what caused the fire but the Cutacross fire began near the Jimtown Cutoff road north of US 212.
“We almost had it, then the wind picked it up and just pushed,” said BIA Fire Management Officer Adam Wolf. Winds of 30 mph pushed the fire north into the town of Lame Deer.
Highway 212 and Montana Highway 39 were closed while firefighters were trying to contain the fire. The roads then reopened around 7:30 p.m. Sunday evening.
Rosebud, Ashland, and Forsyth County firefighters and other firefighters from across the region helped combat the blaze.
Homes along highway 39 were preparing to evacuate but the fire was contained before it became a threat to those homes.
According to the press release, a briefing between the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, Department of Emergency Services, the BIA superintendent, the Rosebud County Commission and the Sheriff was held at 6 p.m.
BIA Assistant Fire Management Officer Bobby Cooper is leading the “Type 3” team managing the fire.
Three dozers and a road grader will build line encircling the burn overnight and into Monday morning.
