Bitterroot National Forest

1801 N. 1st Street, Hamilton, MT 59840 (406) 363-7100 NEWS RELEASE

__________________________________________________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Tod McKay Public Affairs Officer (406) 363-7122 (406) 531-1130 - CELL tgmckay@fs.fed.us August 29, 2011 CREWS RESPONDING TO NEW WILDFIRES Hamilton, MT. The thunderstorms that brought rain and wind to the Valley last night also brought lots of lightning which sparked nine new wildfires on the Bitterroot National Forest. Four fires are burning east of Hamilton in the Sapphire Mountains on the Darby Ranger District. Smoke from these fires is very visible from downtown Hamilton. Five smaller fires are burning on the West Fork Ranger District in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. These fires are each approximately .10 acre and are currently being managed for resource benefits associated with fire. The fires on the Darby Ranger District are all burning approximately 10 miles east of Hamilton and several miles northwest of the Gird Point Lookout. The largest fire is approximately 50 acres. Five engines and 20 firefighters have been dispatched and several more crews, including a type I hotshot crew have been ordered and will soon be in-route to the fires. There are no structures or property threatened at this time. The following resources have been dispatched to the fires:  5 engines and 20 firefighters from the Bitterroot National Forest  1 helicopter is doing water drops to cool hot spots There will likely be several road and trail closures associated with these fires including Gird Road #714 off Skalkaho Highway. Fire managers will manage the three largest fires as one complex called the Forty One Complex with their first priority being to keep the fires from moving west on to private land. ###