Deadman Fire Update

According to the InciWeb report as of Tuesday, July 23. Fire containment – Deadman: 95%   McGhee: 73%   Prairie: 100%   Four Mile: 100%  

Northern Rockies Team 3, Incident Commander Mike Behrens  with the Bureau of Land Management Montana-Dakotas State Office reports that this is the final update for the Deadman, McGhee, Prairie and Four Mile Fires. 

July 23 is the last day the Deadman Fire(s) will be managed under Mike Behrens’ Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3. Command will be transferred to a local Type 4 team at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, July 24, with the Bureau of Land Management and Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation fire managers. Yesterday, firefighters patrolled and mopped up uncontrolled edges of the McGhee and Deadman Fires, increasing containment percentages for both. Repair of suppression and control lines occurred on all four fires. Extra resources were demobilized or sent to other priority incidents. 

Current Status

Patrolling, monitoring, and mopping up continued today. Repair and rehabilitation of suppression and control lines are also ongoing. Hand crews will finish repairing control lines on steep ground today. Unburned islands in the interior of the McGhee and Deadman Fires will continue to burn out in the foreseeable future and produce visible smoke. However, the probability of escape is very low. The temporary flight restriction (TFR) over the fire area will be lifted at the end of today. 

Weather and fire behavior

July 23, temperatures are expected to reach a high of 97° F and 15 percent relative humidity. Winds will generally be from the north with gusts to 8 mph. Triple digit temperatures and very low levels of relative humidity are forecasted for Wednesday and Thursday.

Smoke

Smoke from Canada and other regional fires is impacting the area.

Closures and special messages 

Stage 1 fire restrictions are in place in Bighorn County. Click here, for current Montana fire restrictions information.