The Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest (B-D) reports there have been four human-caused fire starts in the past five days in the forest's Wisdom District.
According to Paul Diaz, the Wisdom District Fire Management Officer, the fires are a result of warming fires left unattended and not fully extinguished.
It is common for warming fires to ignite and cause fire starts as temperatures drop. Fuels in the forest currently have low moisture levels which allow fires to take off more easily.
Officials encourage hunters to ensure warming fires are fully extinguished prior to leaving the area. Over 10 warming fires have led to human-caused fire starts on the entire B-D.
A recent escaped warming fire grew to about 20 acres near Salefsky Creek in the Wisdom District of the B-D. Fire crews were able to contain that fire at 20 acres.
Early notification is important in the ability to conduct smoke checks and dispatch Fire Crews over the 3.4-million-acre Forest.
If you come across an unattended warming fire, officials ask that you contact the Dillon Interagency Dispatch center at 406-683-3975, the local Sheriff's Office, or the local Ranger District Office.
