LINCOLN — Smoke and ash filled the air by Flesher Pass on Wednesday. According to officials with the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest, the Sandbar 2 Fire had grown to more than 230 acres burned as of Wednesday afternoon.
The U.S. Forest Service, Montana DNRC, Lincoln and Wolf Creek volunteer fire departments, and hand crews from as far as Oregon worked the fire on the ground, aided by helicopter water drops and airtanker retardant drops.
(Watch to see crews fight the Sandbar 2 Fire)
"We immediately set out with our hand crews and had helicopter drops and retardant drops," said Chiara Cipriano, Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest spokesperson. "The biggest concerns are just being able to hold it to the smallest possible footprint and keep it away from private structures and land."
The fire is visible from Montana State Highway 279 and is less than one mile from private structures and land.
A closure is in effect for the Continental Divide Trail between Flesher and Rogers Pass. The U.S. Forest Service has also issued an area closure is in effect for public safety.
Officials say one challenge with the fire is the steep and hard-to-access terrain and the hot temperatures.
"Currently, the biggest challenge is that it has been so hot recently that all of the fuels are completely dried out," said Cipriano.
Fire officials say they do not anticipate needing to close Highway 279, but ask that people take extra caution if they drive the road.
"Please slow down along Highway 279 and avoid stopping at pullouts as this can affect firefighter safety and operations," said the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest on social media.
The fire is believed to have been caused by lightning.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional information from the U.S. Forest Service.
