Crews continue to battle fire near Whitehall

Fire crews are continuing to battle the McClusky fire that was caused by lighting August 16 three miles northeast of Delmoe Lake and 13 miles northwest of Whitehall.

As of press deadline, the fire is at 112 acres and 51 percent of indirect suppression actions have been completed.

Crews have completed incident objectives constructing indirect line utilizing old road, trail systems, and natural barriers, providing a location where firefighters can safely engage the fire, if needed, with a high probability of success. The fire is currently reported at 51 percent complete. Containment is a percentage that represents fireline built directly on the fire's perimeter. Containment is considered in the percentage of completion.

The McClusky fire will continue to burn until the area receives a season-ending weather event. Smoke from the fire could be visible from locations on or adjacent to National Forest System lands. Fire managers monitor weather and changes in fire activity throughout the day. Smoke was observed in the interior of the fire's perimeter yesterday as warm and breezy conditions passed through the area. Minimal fire behavior on the McClusky fire kept the fire at 112 acres.

The fire is continuing to smolder and creep in heavy standing dead and downed trees. Standing snags and those hung-up or suspended in adjacent snags pose an excessive safety risk to firefighters.

Crews and personnel were released Monday to provide firefighting support in other areas. The current Type 3 Incident Management team will transition this evening to the local Type 4 incident structure. If fire activity on the McClusky fire increases, additional resources will be ordered to implement planned suppression actions.

A total of 81 personnel are assigned to the fire, including one helicopter, two Type 1 Hotshot crews, two engines, and miscellaneous overhead and support.

Fire restrictions are not in effect on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, however, visitors are reminded to be careful while recreating in the forest. Be sure to extinguish campfires completely. Keep all motorized vehicles on roads and trails. Keep informed of other area restrictions by going online to https://firerestrictions.us.

For more fire information visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6524/.%20.