Fire Crews Fighting Three Fires On Crow Indian Reservation

At 12:15 Wednesday (July 14th) a post-lightning air reconnaissance found the Blacktail Creek lightning fire overlooking Bighorn Lake and Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, just north of Blacktail Creek at the north end of Big Bull Elk Ridge.

A full load of smokejumpers parachuted soon after onto this remote yet visible fire, more than four hours’ drive from Crow Agency.

High on the canyon wall in tribal lands, the fire is in a spectacular natural setting.

It threatens only forest and cultural areas which accommodate occasional natural fire. 

Wednesday, BIA Billings and USFS Missoula helitack and their helicopters calmed edges of the 50 acre fire with bucket drops.

Flames on the windless day were 1 to 3 feet long with occasional trees torching.

A hotshot crew and engines are ordered.

The objective is to keep the fire from spreading east over the uplands or south into thick forest above Garvin Basin.

The 965 acre South Tullock Creek fire 16 miles northeast of Crow Agency winds down activity Thursday (July 15th) as engines mop up and patrol its edges.

Wednesday morning till midnight, BIA firefighters “burned out” grass between the ragged edges of the fire and its grader-built fireline.

They created 6-foot flames in the sagebrush and grass. Helicopter bucket work slowed other growth to only 3 acres.

The fire has three engines, one crew and water tenders assigned today and is 20% contained.

One crew and an engine remain on the East Tullock Creek fire.

The National Weather Service predicts a chance of lightning today and Friday then four days over 100 degrees in Crow Agency Saturday to Tuesday, then high 90s temps.

Possible record temperatures and low humidity remain likely July 21 to 27.

Please care for yourself and family: stay hydrated and cool, keep in the shade in midday, and do not let anyone fool with fire.