CASPER, Wyo. — The Robertson Draw Fire near the Wyoming-Montana border south of Red Lodge has grown to 29,596 acres, according to a Tuesday morning update from fire managers posted to the Custer-Gallatin National Forest Facebook page.
Containment on the fire has increased to 53% with 365 personnel assigned to the fire.
Crews on the fire’s south side conducted burnout operations on Monday along both the Robertson Draw Trail and a mid-slope containment line.
“This was done to remove unburned fuels between the main fire that is burning in steep, rugged terrain and the containment lines constructed on the lower portion of the mountain,” the update states. “Smoke from this operation was very evident during the afternoon and evening. Some smoke moved into the Highway 212 corridor.”
On the eastern side of the fire, crews monitored for smoke and heat along containment lines. On the northwest side, crews works on containment lines and a contingency line.
“The contingency line is being tied into the East Side Road near Highway 212,” fire managers say.
On the west side, the fire’s “A” Division supervisor, a 10-person Wildland Fire Module crew and a helicopter crew were flown to the west side of the fire where they began work on a fuel break as well as a hand line moving north toward Mount Maurice.
“The crew will be spike camping up in the mountains for several nights,” the update adds. “The structure protection group continued their work assessing the summer cabins for defensible space and equipment needs if sprinkler systems would need to be installed.”
On Tuesday, crews plan to continue patrolling the east side of the fire for hear and extinguishing where needed: “There is one creek draw with a pocket of aspen trees that continues to hold heat and needs to be worked on.”
Firefighters will begin to mop up containment lines from Monday’s burnout operations on the south side.
“On the northwest side crews will continue to construct the contingency fire line between the fire area and the East Side Road,” the update adds. “Farther up the slope crews will work directly along the fire’s edge looking for pockets of heat and cooling the edge. The firefighters and Wildland Fire Module will continue to construct a fuel break and some hand line moving north towards Mt. Maurice.”
“The structure protection group will finish work on assessments and planning within the summer cabins located on National Forest System lands.”
Evacuation warnings remain in effect in areas south of Red Lodge and east of U.S. Highway 212.
Closures in effect include:
- North and South Grove Creek Road
- Gold Creek Road
- Ruby Creek Road
- Meeteetse Trail
- Robertson Draw Road
- All Custer Gallatin National Forest System lands south of Point of Rocks in the Rock Creek drainage are closed under a Forest Closure Order
- This includes trailheads, campgrounds, dispersed camping areas, and the USDA Forest Service Recreation Residences in Corral Creek, Spring Creek, Snow Creek, and Sheep Creek
- This is in addition to the Closure Area encompassing the Line Creek Plateau
- All Bureau of Land Management lands lying West of State Highway 72, South of State Highway 308, and East of US Highway 212 in Carbon County, Montana
- Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR): A new TFR is in place for air space over the Robertson Draw Fire (FDC 1/7695) to provide a safe environment for firefighting aircraft operating in the area. Remember that temporary flight restrictions also apply to unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) or drones. If you fly, we can’t
“It is recommended that all area residents have a household evacuation plan ready,” fire managers say. “Please remain vigilant and be aware of the fire situation and your surroundings.”
Type 2 Northern Rockies Incident Management Team 4 is in charge of the fire.
