Single Publication

Start Date & Location: July 9, 2024,    5 miles south of York, MT 

Cause: Human, under investigation       Size: 14,935 acres Containment: 40% 

KEY MESSAGE 

Evacuation warnings were lifted around the Horse Gulch Fire area yesterday evening at 6 PM for all residents. Traffic restrictions remain in place on Jimtown Road between Riverside Road and Trout Road, as well as on Black Bear Road due to heavy emergency vehicle traffic. Additionally, the fire area itself is still closed to everyone except emergency personnel. The Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest closure remains in place, which includes Vigilante Campground. The Bureau of Land Management Butte Field Office land closure remains in place. Drivers are urged to reduce speed around the fire area to eliminate conflicts with emergency traffic. 

CURRENT STATUS AND PLANNED ACTIONS 

Yesterday, many fire crews were tasked with mop up along the fire perimeter on the south, west, and northwest sides of the fire area. Mop-up involves systematically combing through burned areas in a grid pattern to detect and extinguish any remaining sources of heat. Firing operations were successful in removing much of the unburned islands of fuel within spotting distance of control lines at the top of Cave Gulch near Hedges Ridge. Night crews monitored fire activity to make sure no spot fires took hold across the line. 

Today, unmanned aerial systems (UAS), also known as drones, and ground crews will continue with tactical firing operations to the north in the Bar Gulch area, as conditions allow, to remove the islands of unburned fuel that remain too close to the fire line to allow for containment. Along the south flank, suppression repair will begin with excavators working to repair damage and minimize soil erosion. 

WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR 

Thunderstorms were observed yesterday to the south and east of the fire area. However, no precipitation was produced. Winds were variable in the morning, then westerly at 5-10 mph with gusts up to 20 in the afternoon. Today, the forecast is similar but with winds coming out of the northwest and will shift to the northeast in the afternoon.  

EVACUATIONS AND CLOSURES 

Evacuations: Effective 7/19/24, all evacuation warnings have been lifted. 

Road Closure: Residents only access on Jimtown Road from Riverside Road to Trout Creek Road and on Black Bear Road. All other roads including Canyon Ferry Road are open, except roads within the fire perimeter. 

Forest Closure: The Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest closures remain in place around the fire area. Details can be found at Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest - Home (usda.gov)  

Campground Closure: The Vigilante Campground, within the forest closure area, remains closed. As of 7/19/2024, all other campgrounds are now reopened.  

BLM Closure: The Butte Field Office has issued a closure on BLM lands near the fire area. https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-publication/mthlf-horse-gulch-fire/signed-blm-area-closure-07-14-2024