MISSOULA — The Beeskove fire burning north of Missoula has grown to 429 acres.
A Type 2 Incident Management Team has assumed management of the blaze as the steep, rugged remote terrain is still challenging firefighting work.
Fire growth has been primarily uphill, spotting to the south towards Wisherd Ridge, according to fire managers.
Due to high temperatures and low relative humidities in the forecast, an increase in fire activity today is likely.
The following areas are closed:
- Woody Mountain – Johnson Gulch area is closed to recreational use.
- Sheep Mountain Trailhead is closed, along with access to the trailhead via East Twin Creek Road FS 2117 and Upper Twin Creek Road FS 2119.
- Mineral Peak Lookout is closed as well as access to the lookout via the East Fork Rattlesnake Road FS 2112 and Mineral Peak Lookout Road 2120.
- Upper Twin Creek/Sheep Mountain Spur Trail #505 is closed.
New closures, as follows, went into effect on The Nature Conservancy (TNC) lands on August 7, 2019:
- T13N, R17W - all TNC lands.
- T14N, R17W – all TNC lands that lie west of the Gold Creek Road #126, north to the junction with West Fork Gold Creek Road #2103, then southwest of the West Fork Gold Creek Road #2103.
- T15N, R17W – all TNC lands that lie southwest of the West Fork Gold Creek Roads #2103 and #4323.
Previous closures which are still in effect:
- Rattlesnake Creek Trail #515 remains closed after Poe Meadow for staging of fire equipment. The trail is open until Poe Meadow
- Trail #515.7/#515.8 remains closed.
- Sheep Mountain Loop Trail #1513 remains closed.
- East Fork of the Rattlesnake Trail #514 remains closed.
- Sheep Mountain Trail #513 remains closed.
- Mineral Peak Trail #511 remains closed.
- Rattlesnake Horse Trailhead remains closed for staging of vehicles.
There are 346 people assigned to the lightning sparked wildfire that's burning in the Rattlesnake National Recreation Area five miles northeast of main Rattlesnake Trailhead
