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Deadman Fire

Unit Information

1539 Eleventh Ave. 
Helena, 
Montana 
59601 
1539 Eleventh Ave. 
Helena, 
Montana 
59601 

Incident Contacts

Eastern Land Office DNRC
Phone: 406-247-4400
Hours: 8am-5pm Mountain Time

Highlighted Media

Rolling hills show some burned area that is no longer smoking. A fire engine is parked on the left.

Numerous fires were ignited in southeast Montana by dry lightning on July 12 and 13. Command of the Deadman Fire(s) will transition to a local Type 4 Team on 7/24. 

Size:   Deadman: 19,982   McGhee: 19,223   Prairie: 6,540   Four Mile: 2,082  

Completion/Containment:   Deadman: 97%   McGhee: 89%   Prairie: 100%   Four Mile: 100%    

Basic Information
Current as of Tue, 07/23/2024 - 22:18
Incident Time Zone America/Denver
Incident Type Wildfire
Cause Lightning
Date of Origin
Location Approx 17 mi south of Birney and north of the Tongue River Reservoir in Rosebud and Big Horn Counties
Incident Commander Dan Angelo, Incident Commander
Eastern Land Office of the Montana Dept. of Natural Resources and Conservation
USDI Bureau of Land Management
Coordinates 45° 13' 13'' Latitude
-106° 37'
22
'' Longitude
Current Situation
Total Personnel: 207
Size 47,827 Acres
Fuels Involved

Green Timber, grass, sage brush and snags. Fires are burning primarily in a grass and shrub understory with pockets of ponderosa pine timber litter. Scattered throughout are some low shrubs with areas of juniper in the understory which aid in the ability to transition to torching/crowning. Portions of the grass type are grazed while some are ungrazed. Las year's grass crop is contributing to spread. Recent heat has cured the grass which very available to spread with the exception of areas immediately adjacent to riparian areas.  1000 hour fuels are very low and leading to near complete consumption.r a potential spot to form from any isolated torching along the west flank of the fire

Significant Events

This is the final update for the Deadman, McGhee, Prairie and Four Mile Fires. 

Today is the last day the Deadman Fire(s) will be managed under Mike Behrens’ Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3. Command will be transferred to a local Type 4 team at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, July 24, with the Bureau of Land Management and Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation fire managers. Yesterday, firefighters patrolled and mopped up uncontrolled edges of the McGhee and Deadman Fires, increasing containment percentages for both. Repair of suppression and control lines occurred on all four fires. Extra resources were demobilized or sent to other priority incidents.      

Outlook
Planned Actions

Continue to mop-up and secure the fire perimeter.  Repair and rehabilitation of suppression and control lines are also ongoing.  

Projected Incident Activity

Minimal fire behavior with creeping and smoldering expected. 

Remarks

CLOSURES AND SPECIAL MESSAGES 

Stage 1 fire restrictions are in place in Bighorn County. Visit www.mtfireinfo.org for current Montana fire restrictions information. T

Current Weather
Weather Concerns

WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR 

Strong upper-level ridge builds into the region through the middle of the week, resulting in very hot temperatures and low humidity. Temperatures peak Wednesday and Thursday, at around 100-105 degrees, with percent afternoon humidity in the lower teens. Gusty winds will also be possible on Thursday, increasing the threat for critical fire weather. Thursday night will see a cold front moving from west to east, which will bring a chance of showers and thunderstorms to the fire along with the potential for gusty winds and a wind shift with the frontal passage.  Cooler temperatures are then favored for he end of the week and into next weekend, along with a chance of showers and thunderstorms each day.   

SMOKE 

Smoke from Canada and other regional fires is impacting the area. For the current smoke reports, visit  www.fire.airnow.gov/