BOZEMAN — According to the U.S. Forest Service,the Bridger Foothills Fire is still active, reporting zero percent containment.
“The acres today are 7,000. Overnight, we did an infrared flight which gave us a lot better mapping. Yesterday’s update had an estimate from the rapid growth yesterday and the acres that came out of that infrared flight are 7,000 acres,” said Mariah Leuschen, Public Affairs Specialist with the U.S. Forest Service.
Residents have been evacuated from Bridger Canyon, Kelly Canyon, and Jackson Creek area due to the growing fire.
As of Sunday morning, all unaccounted residents were reported safe; now the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office is working on keeping residents away from the scene.
“We’re trying to keep everything as clear as possible. So right now that’s our focus and then also we have fire movement. But I have also just been told that we have warned everyone and cleaned everyone out so things are looking really good,” said Gallatin County Sheriff Brian Gootkin.
Some of the biggest concerns now: winds that are picking up and the fire approaching Bridger Bowl Ski Resort.
And of course, structure damage. We asked Sheriff Gootkin for a report on the number of homes that have been damaged and he said, “Dozens. Easily. I’ve driven up through there and it’s pretty devastating. We’ll have a better idea tomorrow with the weather to go up through and get a better count.”
On Sunday afternoon, officials held a public meeting and said the cooler weather should help, but it won’t solve all the problems.
“This fire is going to be here. We’re going to continue to manage it through the long-term. Throughout September. Even when that fire is completely out and when we’re able to get that thing contained, we’re still gonna be working with this fire,” said Corey Lewellen with the U.S. Forest Service.
