Single Publication

Video Update: https://fb.watch/tnZ0SrC31t/ 

Deadman, McGhee, Prairie, and Four Mile Fires 

Bureau of Land Management Montana-Dakotas State Office 

Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation 

Fire Information 406-924-3831  2024.Deadman@firenet.gov 

https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/mtmts-deadman-fire www.facebook.com/RosebudCountyDisasterAndEmergencyServices 

Wednesday, July 17, 2024 

Northern Rockies Team 3, Incident Commander Mike Behrens  

Location:  South of Birney, Montana and north of Tongue River Reservoir in Rosebud and Big Horn Counties 

Start Date: 7/12 and 7/13/2024 

Cause: Lightning    

Size:   Deadman: 19,088   McGhee: 8,379   Prairie: 6,540   Four Mile: 2,082  

Completion/Containment:   Deadman: 20%   McGhee: 10%   Prairie: 50%   Four Mile: 1%   

KEY MESSAGE:  Firefighters conducted burnout operations on the McGhee and Deadman fires Tuesday.  On the McGhee Fire, helicopters and air tankers assisted with water and retardant drops when heavy vegetation, wind, and terrain aligned to increase fire behavior in the afternoon and evening. The fire pushed south of Wall Creek Road. Two Hotshot crews and other resources worked overnight to conduct burnouts north of Lacey Gulch Road and west of Hanging Woman Creek to try to tie it into the northeastern edge of the Deadman Fire. On the west side of the Deadman Fire, a smokejumper module conducted burnout operations to bring the fire down into the Tongue River corridor where it can be secured. An Unmanned Aerial System (drone) was used overnight to continue with small burnout operations. 

CURRENT STATUS: Crews will hold and secure the eastern McGhee fire lines today and continue with burnouts on the south and east as weather conditions allow. Fire managers will also determine how to tie lines together from the west side down into the south portion, avoiding the Battle Butte Area of Critical Environmental Concern as fire will be less detrimental to this area than suppression efforts. On Deadman, crews will continue to conduct small burnouts on the west side to bring the fire down to the river. On the Four Mile Fire, firefighters are cooling the remaining hot spots and patrolling the edges. The Prairie Fire is showing little heat and is being monitored. 

WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR: Winds are predicted to have a north-easterly component today, which could help reduce fire spread to the east. Weather remains hot and dry today, with a slight chance of precipitation on Thursday. Active fire behavior and group torching is expected, especially as fire reaches stringers of timber and heavy pockets of older juniper trees.  

CLOSURES AND SPECIAL MESSAGES: In Big Horn County, an evacuation warning is in place for residents from the intersection of Dale Creek Road and East Fork Canyon Road, east to the county line; from the intersection of Dale Creek Road and East Fork Canyon Road south to the intersection of Birney Road and Highway 314; from the intersection of Highway 314 and Birney Road east to the county line. In Rosebud County, an evacuation warning is in place for residents along the Tongue River Road from the Tongue River Bridge at Wall Creek to the southern Rosebud County line. Look for specific closure information and maps on the Rosebud and Big Horn County Sheriff Facebook pages.    

An evacuation warning means people should be aware of and monitor the situation closely, being prepared to evacuate if needed as the status could change quickly.