Photos from The Bobcat Lakes and Sand Creek fires burning in southwest Montana
Driven by critical fire conditions, the Bobcat Lakes and Sand Creek fires have been burning in the West Pioneer Mountains in southwest Montana for the past two weeks.
The Sand Creek fire, about 7.5 miles southeast of Wisdom, started one day after the Bobcat Lakes fire, about 13 miles southwest of Wise River.
The fires grew quickly, triggering evacuations and drawing a large firefighting effort.
The response has included structure protection efforts at Maverick Mountain ski area and Elkhorn Hot Springs, where the Sand Creek fire burned over the area earlier in the week, and community meetings.
As of Aug. 13, the Bobcat Lakes fire was estimated at 9,680 acres and the Sand Creek fire at 27,736 acres.
Angela Himmelberg offers freshly baked cookies to residents of the Grasshopper Valley watching the Sand Creek fire from the Grasshopper Inn in Polaris on Aug. 12. Himmelberg among others watching the fire from the inn had been evacuated from their homes. The Beaverhead County Sheriff has issued a “go” evacuation status for Elkhorn Hot Springs and Maverick Mountain, including all communities from Billings Creek north, extending from Polaris to the Ma Barnes Subdivision in Grasshopper Valley.
Members of the Mormon Lake hotshots crew work to clear trees for a containment line for the Bobcat Lakes Fire along the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway in the West Pioneer Wilderness Study Area on Aug. 4.
Michael and Claire Wunderlin smile as they have a drink outside of their RV at the campground at Jackson Hot Springs in Jackson on Aug. 12. The Wunderlins were evacuated from their home by Elkhorn Hot Springs due to the Sand Creek fire. The couple attended a fire briefing at Jackson Elementary and planned to stay the night in Jackson before going to Bozeman to stay with friends.
John Borge photographs an aircraft flying to drop water on Maverick Mountain as the Sand Creek fire burns from the Grasshopper Inn in Polaris on Aug. 12. Borge’s son is one of the owners of Maverick Mountain Ski Resort, which had sustained damage from the fire and was under an evacuation order.
Attendees listen at a fire briefing at Jackson Elementary in Jackson on Aug. 12. Two fires, the Bobcat Lakes fire and Sand Creek fire, are burning in the West Pioneer Wilderness Study Area.
Philip Knaub speaks about fire operations at a fire briefing at Jackson Elementary in Jackson on Aug. 12. Two fires, the Bobcat Lakes fire and Sand Creek fire, are burning in the West Pioneer Wilderness Study Area.
Smoke rises as the Sand Creek Fire burns in the West Pioneer Wilderness Area near Wisdom on Tuesday.
Residents of the Grasshopper Valley watch as aircrafts drop water on the Sand Creek fire from the Grasshopper Inn in Polaris on Aug. 12. The Beaverhead County Sheriff has issued a “go” evacuation status for Elkhorn Hot Springs and Maverick Mountain, including all communities from Billings Creek north, extending from Polaris to the Ma Barnes Subdivision in Grasshopper Valley. The inn sits on the other side of the evacuation line.
Michael Wunderlin shows off the bag of scarves he prioritized bringing from his home in his RV at the campground at Jackson Hot Springs in Jackson on Aug. 12. Michael and Claire Wunderlin were evacuated from their home by Elkhorn Hot Springs due to the Sand Creek fire. The couple attended a fire briefing at Jackson Elementary and planned to stay the night in Jackson before going to Bozeman to stay with friends.
Claire Wunderlin makes a vodka lemonade in her RV at the campground at Jackson Hot Springs in Jackson on Aug. 12. Claire and Michael Wunderlin were evacuated from their home by Elkhorn Hot Springs due to the Sand Creek fire. The couple attended a fire briefing at Jackson Elementary and planned to stay the night in Jackson before going to Bozeman to stay with friends.
Members of the Mormon Lake hotshots crew work to clear trees for a containment line for the Bobcat Lakes Fire along the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway in the West Pioneer Wilderness Area on Tuesday.
A staging area for the Bobcat Lakes Fire and Sand Creek Fire, which are burning in the West Pioneer Wilderness Area, at the Wise River Airport in Wise River on Tuesday.
A road closure is marked on the road to the Lacy Creek Trailhead along the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway in the West Pioneer Wilderness Area on Aug. 4. Two fires, the Bobcat Lakes Fire and Sand Creek Fire, are burning in the West Pioneer Wilderness Study Area.
Smoke rises as the Sand Creek Fire burns in the West Pioneer Wilderness Area near Wisdom on Aug. 4.
Members of the Mormon Lake hotshots crew work to clear trees for a containment line for the Bobcat Lakes Fire along the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway in the West Pioneer Wilderness Area on Aug. 4.
A smoky view of the Pioneer Mountains from the Pioneer Mountain Scenic Byway on Tuesday. Two fires, the Bobcat Lakes Fire and Sand Creek Fire, are burning in the West Pioneer Wilderness Area.
Hot shot crews clear trees as part of line building efforts on the road up to Maverick Mountain ski area in Polaris on Aug. 14. The Sand Creek fire burned through the area, sustaining damage to the chairlift. Structure protection efforts were taken and no structures at the base of the ski area sustained damage.
Burnt trees are seen behind the lodge at Maverick Mountain ski area in Polaris on Aug. 14. The Sand Creek fire burned through the area, sustaining damage to the chairlift. Structure protection efforts were taken and no structures at the base of the ski area were damaged.
Trees and the brush are red from fire retardant at Maverick Mountain ski area in Polaris on Aug. 14. The Sand Creek fire burned through the area, sustaining damage to the chairlift. Structure protection efforts were taken and no structures at the base of the ski area were damaged.
Downed chairs from the chairlift are pictured after the lift sustained fire damage at Maverick Mountain ski area in Polaris on Aug. 14. The Sand Creek fire burned through the area. Structure protection efforts were taken and no structures at the base of the ski area were damaged.
Part of the chairlift is pictured after sustaining fire damage at Maverick Mountain ski area in Polaris on Aug. 14. The Sand Creek fire burned through the area. Structure protection efforts were taken and no structures at the base of the ski area were damaged.
Burnt trees line a road at Maverick Mountain ski area in Polaris on Aug. 14. The Sand Creek fire burned through the area, sustaining damage to the chairlift. Structure protection efforts were taken and no structures at the base of the ski area were damaged.
Fire crews work at Maverick Mountain ski area in Polaris on Aug. 14. The Sand Creek fire burned through the area, sustaining damage to the chairlift. Structure protection efforts were taken and no structures at the base of the ski area sustained damage.
A view of damage from the Sand Creek fire along the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway as seen from Maverick Mountain in Beaverhead County on Aug. 14.
A view of damage from the Sand Creek fire as seen from Maverick Mountain in Beaverhead County on Aug. 14.
Cans of fuel are lined up along a fence at the lodge at Maverick Mountain ski area in Polaris on Aug. 14. The Sand Creek fire burned through the area, sustaining damage to the chairlift. Structure protection efforts were taken and no structures at the base of the ski area sustained damage.
Hot shot crews clear trees as part of line building efforts on the road up to Maverick Mountain ski area in Polaris on Aug. 14. The Sand Creek fire burned through the area, sustaining damage to the chairlift. Structure protection efforts were taken and no structures at the base of the ski area sustained damage.
Elkhorn Hot Springs is pictured after the Sand Creek fire burned through the area in Polaris on Aug. 14. Structure protection efforts were taken and no structures at the hot springs sustained damage.
Hoses are pictured around a cabin at Elkhorn Hot Springs after the Sand Creek fire burned through the area in Polaris on Aug. 14. Structure protection efforts were taken and no structures at the hot springs sustained damage.
A sign marking Elkhorn Hot Spring’s closure is pictured after the Sand Creek fire burned through the area in Polaris on Aug. 14. Structure protection efforts were taken and no structures at the hot springs sustained damage.
A view of damage from the Sand Creek fire along the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway in Beaverhead County on Aug. 14.
A view of damage from the Sand Creek fire along the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway in Beaverhead County on Aug. 14.
A view of damage from the Sand Creek fire along the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway in Beaverhead County on Aug. 14.
A view of smoke and damage from the Sand Creek fire is pictured from the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway in Beaverhead County on Aug. 14.
A view of smoke and damage from the Sand Creek fire is pictured from the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway in Beaverhead County on Aug. 14.
Sienna Himmelberg bakes cookies to deliver to firefighters at the Grasshopper Inn in Polaris on Aug. 14. Himmelberg and her family were evacuated from their home and are staying at the inn, which sits on the other side of the evacuation area. Residents of the Grasshopper Valley have been gathering at the inn to watch the fire response.
Sienna Himmelberg delivers freshly baked cookies to firefighters stationed outside of the Grasshopper Inn in Polaris on Aug. 14. Himmelberg and her family were evacuated from their home and are staying at the inn, which sits on the other side of the evacuation area. Residents of the Grasshopper Valley have been gathering at the inn to watch the fire response.
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The team coordinating firefighting on the Sand Creek and Bobcat Lakes fires described the 'fire fight' that unfolded Tuesday as firefighters worked to save Maverick Mountain and Elkhorn Hot Springs.