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The Sawlog Fire was reported on the afternoon of May 1st. Forest Service fire officials from the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest responded to the area, located west of Wise River and northeast of Wisdom in the Sawlog Creek drainage. The fire was initially estimated at 50-70 acres, burning on the south side of the Big Hole River. Immediate access to the fire area was somewhat limited, given the time of year with the snow melt and high water conditions in the river. Upon arriving at the fire's location, firefighters observed the fire burning actively in sagebrush and Lodgepole pine timber. A large "dead and downed" component of fuels exists on the north-facing slopes in the area.
The fire is located between the Sawlog Creek and Toomey Creek drainages, on the south side of the Big Hole River. The fire footprint from the 2021 Christensen Fire is located to the south, and the fire footprint from the 2021 Alder Fire is located to the east.
Fire investigators are working to determine the exact cause of the fire. Neither the Forest Service nor the BLM had any prescribed fires (commonly referred to as “controlled burns”) in that area.
The Sawlog Fire was reported on the afternoon of May 1st. Forest Service fire officials from the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest responded to the area, located west of Wise River and northeast of Wisdom in the Sawlog Creek drainage. The fire was initially estimated at 50-70 acres, burning on the south side of the Big Hole River. Immediate access to the fire area was somewhat limited, given the time of year with the snow melt and high water conditions in the river. Upon arriving at the fire's location, firefighters observed the fire burning actively in sagebrush and Lodgepole pine timber. A large "dead and downed" component of fuels exists on the north-facing slopes in the area.
The fire is located between the Sawlog Creek and Toomey Creek drainages, on the south side of the Big Hole River. The fire footprint from the 2021 Christensen Fire is located to the south, and the fire footprint from the 2021 Alder Fire is located to the east.
Fire investigators are working to determine the exact cause of the fire. Neither the Forest Service nor the BLM had any prescribed fires (commonly referred to as “controlled burns”) in that area.
| Current as of | Wed, 05/07/2025 - 11:44 |
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| Incident Time Zone | Mountain Standard Time |
| Incident Type | Wildfire |
| Cause | Undetermined |
| Date of Origin | |
| Incident Time Zone | Mountain Standard Time |
| Location | 15 miles northeast of Wisdom, MT |
| Incident Commander | Richard Griffin, ICT3 Kyle Errecart, ICT3 (T) USDA Forest Service |
| Incident Description | Change in acres due to accurate mapping |
| Coordinates |
45° 49' 41'' Latitude
-113° 15' 10
'' Longitude
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| Total Personnel: | 134 |
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| Size | 1,412 Acres |
| Percent of Perimeter Contained | 10% |
| Fuels Involved | Timber, sagebrush, and short grass. The fire is burning mainly in sagebrush and Lodgepole pine timber. The north-facing slopes in the area consist of a high “dead and downed” fuel component in a mixed conifer forest, and numerous “snags” or hazard trees are present. This fuel combination poses additional hazards for firefighters and affects on-the-ground progress. Ensuring firefighter safety and protecting life and property are of the utmost importance during any incident. Prior to the cold front, the fire exhibited moderate to extreme fire behavior, with 3 to 5-foot flame lengths in the sagebrush and isolated torching, group torching, and crown runs through the tops of the trees in the timbered areas. When winds have aligned with the orientation of drainages, fire behavior has been extreme. Fuel conditions, during this time of year (pre-green up), are extremely dry. |
| Significant Events | Cooler temperatures and higher relative humidity levels continued to play a role in minimal fire activity yesterday. Fire behavior was limited to creeping and smoldering. The fire area received 0.10 to 0.30 inches of precipitation over that last 48 hours. Large, heavy fuels continue to smolder, despite the precipitation. Fire behavior is expected to pick up as warmer and drier weather is forecasted over the next few days. |
| Planned Actions |
On the western edge, crews are continuing with structure assessments working north along the Highway 43 corridor. A boat will be used to support firefighters in gaining access to the fire across the Big Hole River over the high-water conditions. On the northern flank and working to the south, the smokejumpers identified helispot locations; they progressed along the north, working along the eastern flank scouting potential control lines along this, looking for opportunities to go direct in the Tucker Creek area. A large skidgen has arrived and will support the smokejumpers with water missions. On the southern edge, firefighters are progressing east from the Big Hole River along Toomey Creek with mop up operations. Two Type 1 hotshot crews are prepping line towards the 2021 Alder Creek Fire footprint. The helicopters were utilized for cargo missions to support the firefighters. An Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) has been supporting the fire by flying infrared (IR) and reconnaissance operations that are inaccessible by foot and thick with hazard trees or “snags.” Scattered heat along the entire fire perimeter was found yesterday by flying infrared. |
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| Projected Incident Activity |
Fire officials characterized the fire behavior as "very uncommon" for this time of year. Given these extremely dry fuel conditions, the potential for fire growth is high. Even with the precipitation received in the last 48 hours, the fire continues to smolder in the heavy fuels on the ground. Potential for fire behavior to increase with continued warm, dry weather and fuels drying back out. |
| Remarks |
Working in cooperation with local and interagency partners, fire managers have identified and prioritized values at risk of the Sawlog Fire. Their planning is strategic in nature, focusing available resources and current efforts on protecting critical values at risk (CVAR) while decreasing the potential for negative impacts and resource damage. |
| Weather Concerns | Temperatures forecasted to return to high 70's and low 80's through the rest of the week and into the weekend. A mostly dry cold front will move across the fire area Thursday morning bringing gusty westerly winds. |
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