Single Publication

Type 3 Incident Command Team, Incident Commander Matt Young   

Location: Bitterroot NF: Railroad Creek/ Skalkaho Creek confluence, 26 miles southeast of Hamilton

               Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF: 20 Miles northwest of Georgetown Lake Dam off  Skalkaho Hwy 38 

Start Date: 7/25/2024  

Cause: Undetermined     

Daly Fire Acres: 10,837  Railroad Fire Acres: 1,546 Completion: 56% 

Total Personnel: 265 

NOTE: Official Transfer of Command will take place on Wednesday 10/16/24 to Justin Abbey, Type 3 IC 

Current Status :Today dozer line was completed from upper Buckhorn Saddle to Gird Cr. Road FS #714. An Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) was utilized in firing operations to remove pockets of fuel between the blackline and the fires edge. Multiple helicopters aided firefighters with buckets of water to suppress areas of heat along fire perimeter. 

 In efforts to prevent hazard trees from falling across Skalkaho Hwy 38, sawyers continued cutting standing dead trees and used a woodchipper to shred limbs into smaller wood chips. 

Today, crews will hold and monitor previous firing operations. After assessment of the fire, firefighters will analyze the need for more UAS firing of unburned fuels between blackline and fires edge. Sawers will continue clean up above Skalkaho Hwy 38 removing the amount standing dead snags and will continue chipping ground fuels. 

Weather and Fire Behavior : Warm and dry conditions are forecast again today. Southwest wind gusts of 10-15 mph are predicted across mid slopes and ridge tops. These conditions will likely bring elevated fire weather conditions and may bring smoke into the Bitterroot Valley today. A cold front is expected to arrive Wednesday evening and may bring gusty winds up to 25mph. This front will bring cooler temperatures and periods of precipitation through the end of the week. Thursday snow is forecast to fall at 4,000 feet in elevation. 

There is a 50% probability for at least 2” of snow over mountain passes by Friday morning. 

EVACUATIONS: On October 9, 2024 the Ravalli County Sheriff’s Office issued an Evacuation Warning for residents off of Skalkaho Highway (1700-2500 block) due to the Railroad-Daly Fire. For more information on evacuations visit the Ravalli County Sheriff Facebook page.  

To register your phone number for emergency notifications in Ravalli County visit, http://hyper-reach.com/mtravallisignup.html. 

CLOSURES  : The Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest has issued an Area/Road/Trail Closure effective October 4, 2024.  

The Bitterroot National Forest has also issued a road closure effective October 10, 2024. 

These orders are for public and firefighter safety during fire suppression efforts on the Fire.  

Closure information and maps are posted on the Bitterroot and Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forests’ website www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/bdnf/alerts-notices and www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/bitterroot/alerts-notices.