BILLINGS — Four wildfires burning in southeast Montana and northern Wyoming have burned a total of 918,282 acres, but firefighters say they are gaining as the weather cools.
A community meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 28 at the Birney Post Office at 302 Commercial St. to discuss firefighter efforts for the Flat Rock, Remington, Constitution and House Draw fires, according to a Monday release from the Southwest Area Incident Management Team.
Birney was one of the most threatened populated areas by the fires, and ranchers in the area have lost livestock, fencing and grazing land.
Combined, 840 firefighters are fighting the fires, including 24 crews, three helicopters, 78 engines, nine bulldozers and seven water tenders.
Here are some highlights of each fire, according to the incident management team:
- Remington (196,387 acres, 0 percent containment) Fire behavior was significantly reduced Sunday, and firefighters will monitor activity on the north end Monday, conduct mopup in the northeast and secure lines in the southwest. The fire is about 20 miles northeast of Leiter, Wyo., but is also burning in several southeast Montana counties.
- House Draw (174,702 acres, 88% containment) Firefighters extinguished a burning power line outside the perimeter of the fire Sunday. On Monday, they are patrolling and mopping up heat sources securing lines where needed. The fire is about 40 miles southeast of Buffalo, Wyo.
- Flat Rock (52,599 acres, 35% containment) The Flat Rock fire is 11 miles northwest of Gillette, and firefighters are monitoring the north end Monday, using direct attacks and helicopters.
- Constitution (24,594 acres, 28% containment) Heavy equipment crews are using bulldozers to keep building containment lines. Fire activity on the northern end continues to produce smoke.
