InciWeb
Wildfire
Prescribed Fire
Burned Area
Response
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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.
| Current as of | Tue, 05/13/2025 - 18:08 |
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| 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 |
| Coordinates |
45° 49' 41'' Latitude
-113° 15' 10
'' Longitude
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| Total Personnel: | 132 |
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| Size | 2,030 Acres |
| Percent of Perimeter Contained | 94% |
| 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. |
| Significant Events | Firefighters progressed with patrol and mop-up of the fire perimeter, reaching 94% containment. A helicopter relocated to the Wise River Helibase for the day, shortening the response time to provide any necessary medical support. The UAS module completed additional infrared (IR) heat-seeking missions to locate hot spots; zero areas of heat were found along the fire’s edge. Resource advisors from BLM and FS continue development of a repair plan based on their assessment of natural resource impacts due to suppression operations.
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| Planned Actions |
Firefighters have assessed an area northeast of the fire in the Walker Creek drainage that ties into a previously used fireline for the Alder Fire of 2021; the analysis will include the extent and type of suppression work necessary if the line were to be used in the future. The helicopters, housed in Butte for safe cover, are expected to remain there given the weather forecast. Excess resources no longer needed will demobilize and return to home units over the next few days. The Incident Command Post (ICP) at the Wisdom Airport will likely be dismantled by the end of Wednesday. |
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| 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 | Yesterday was another day of scattered rain showers, with only isolated pockets of wetting rain reaching the fire. Gusty winds up to 35 mph materialized in the afternoon hours. ICP and the fire area received significant precipitation during the overnight hours. Today’s weather calls for cloudy conditions, with the likelihood of a morning snow shower followed by widespread precipitation and wetting rains. Winds will be from the north to northwest, up to 10 mph. |
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