EBS STAFF
The West Fork Fire, located about 20 miles south of Big sky in the southern Madison Range, produced a large column of visible from Big Sky and West Yellowstone just before 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 19. The fire is located just north of the Beaver Creek Forest Service cabin in the Custer Gallatin National Forest.
According to a Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office press release, at 7:30 p.m., the fire was estimated to be approximately 50 acres in size. A Big Sky Fire Department Facebook post noted that U.S. Forest Service responded to the fire, and the Big Sky Fire Department sent a Type 5 engine and two command staff to assist in firefighting.
“At this time, the fire does not pose a threat to Big Sky,” the GCSO Aug. 19 release stated. The cause of the fire is unknown.
The release advised people to stay away from the Taylor Fork and Beaver Creek areas until further notice–while there are no official closures by the U.S. Forest Service, the public is “strongly encouraged to avoid the area.”
Agencies responding to the West Fork Fire include: the U.S. Forest Service, Big Sky Fire Department, Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, Gallatin County Emergency Management, Hebgen Basin Fire District, and West Yellowstone Police Department.
Gallatin County is under a Red Flag Warning until the evening of Aug. 20, with projected high temperatures, low humidity and windy conditions.
Residents can sign up for Gallatin County Emergency Management’s Community Notification System to receive updates about their area.
Fires started across the southwest Montana region in the past week, including the Tobacco Roots’ Bivens Creek and Cloudrest fires, the Elk Creek Fire near Gallatin Gateway, the McAllister Fire near Ennis Lake and the Horn Fire west of Hebgen Lake.
