The Bradley Creek Fire burning near Norris was 1,870 acres Wednesday, and was 75 percent contained.

Isolated pockets of heat and smoke remain in the fire’s interior, well away from the edge.  Fire officials are aware of this and are addressing those pockets.  Please give officials space to safely continue to work in the fire area and continue to be cautious of fire apparatus and other traffic when traveling on Highway 287 adjacent to the fire perimeter.

Today, resources will finish mopping up a minimum of two chains (132 feet) in from the fire edge and around structures and begin fire line repairs such as pulling back dozer line berms. There has been no growth in the fire’s size.

On Tuesday resources improved fire line and mopped up along the fire’s perimeter and around structures; precipitation did occur over the fire area.

On Monday management of the fire was transferred to the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation County Assist Team. Additional resources arrived including one Type 1 and one Type 2 hand crew. All resources on-scene continued to build and improve fire line; monitor for hot spots; burn areas of unburned vegetation as conditions and resources allowed within the fire’s perimeter; and mop-up where possible.

The Bradley Creek fire was first reported Sunday, August 23 at 3:00 PM in the Bradley Creek drainage outside Norris between highways 287 and 84. Madison County, US Forest Service and Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation all were involved in initial attack efforts.
Those efforts were challenged on Sunday by a late-afternoon wind shift which pushed the fire to the west and south. Ground resources and large air tankers conducting fire retardant drops were utilized to check the fire’s growth. Smoke conditions did cause brief highway closures. Resources continued to work throughout the night.

A high-voltage powerline is in the area and sustained damage in portions; Northwestern Energy is working to do repairs where needed.

DNRC County Assist Team Incident Commander (IC) David Hamilton and IC trainee Patrick Lonergan are managing the fire while working closely with local landowners, Madison County, Montana State University, and interagency fire cooperators.

OWNERSHIP:   Bureau of Land Management, MT State University lands and private
PROTECTION:   DNRC, USFS and Madison County
RESOURCES: 10 Engines; 1 Crew; 2 Water Tenders; 95 personnel total