EBS STAFF
A wildfire burning approximately seven miles south of Red Lodge along U.S. Highway 212 continues to grow, with officials sizing the blaze at 1,204 acres with 0% containment as of Wednesday, April 22. The cause of the fire, which started April 20 on the eastern side of East Side Road, remains under investigation.
According to a Facebook post by Red Lodge Fire Rescue, fire activity overnight was minimal with creeping ground fire and pockets of heat persisting. Today, smokejumpers are hiking into the area near Mount Maurice to assess conditions and work on containing hot spots. Ground crews are concentrating efforts on strengthening containment lines and protecting structures on the northern edge of the fire, particularly in Howell Gulch and near the Yellowstone Bighorn Research Association.
Weather conditions are expected to challenge firefighting operations. Sustained southwest winds of 25 to 30 mph, with gusts up to 50 mph, are forecasted for Wednesday afternoon. A cold front moving in later in the evening may bring shifting winds, along with a chance of rain and overnight snow. Precipitation is expected to increase on Thursday.
Containment efforts remain focused on preventing the fire’s spread toward Red Lodge.
Approximately 185 homes remain under mandatory evacuation orders, including areas south of Howell Gulch Road toward Lake Fork Road. Surrounding areas remain under evacuation warnings.
Road closures are still in effect for East Side Road and Howell Gulch Road, though U.S. 212 has reopened south of Red Lodge. Officials urge the public to avoid the area to ensure safety for both residents and emergency personnel. A Forest Closure Order has also been issued for U.S. Forest Service lands surrounding the fire. Updated infrared mapping continues to refine the fire’s perimeter and size.
The U.S. Forest Service and Red Lodge Fire Rescue are operating under unified command with support from federal, state, and local agencies. Additional updates, evacuation details and maps are available at carbonalert.org, while air quality information can be found at fire.airnow.gov.
