UPDATE (8-20-2020, 10:05 PM): The Missoula Fire Department is reporting that the fire on Mount Sentinel is contained as of 9:33 p.m.
MFD says smoldering may be seen overnight and crews will monitor the fire throughout the night.
"As a reminder, Missoula County upgraded to VERY HIGH fire danger on Tuesday of this week," MFD said in a Facebook post. "Please be extra cautious when recreating in our public lands. Our recent streak of high temperatures has dried our mountainsides and fire can take off very quickly."
UPDATE (8-20-2020, 9:05 PM): The University of Montana sent out another alert saying the fire on Mount Sentinel is 75% contained, according to fire crews from the DNRC.
The alert also said the DNRC is still asking people to stay away from the scene and off of the mountain while crews continue to work. The "M" trail is still closed.
The alert said that barring any significant changes there will be no more updates on the fire Thursday evening.
UPDATE (8-20-2020, 7:55 PM): The University of Montana sent out another alert regarding traffic for first responders.
"To accomodate emergency vehicles and crews, access to the fire, the following traffic restrictions have been placed," the alert read. "All eastbound traffic on South Ave. at Arthur has been stopped. All southbound traffic on Maurice at East Sussex has been stopped. Additional information will follow."
ORIGINAL (8-20-2020, 6:46 PM): Fire crews are responding to a fire on Mount Sentinel early Thursday evening east of Pioneer Court.
Missoula Fire Department along with other emergency crews, including a helicopter with a water bucket and the DNRC, have been battling the blaze since around 6 p.m. The helicopter has been dumping water on the fire.
The fire is burning mostly in grass.
Fire trucks along with other crews are staging near South Avenue and Maurice Avenue. The fire is south of the M and right behind the Elliott Village Apartments and is east of the university golf course and softball complex.
UM sent out an alert saying the "M" trail was closed until further notice and that MPD and Missoula fire were requesting people stay off the mountain and away from the area.
