The Mussigbrod fire near Wisdom is now 45 percent contained, while the Middle Fork fires near Philipsburg are 35 percent contained. At the Middle Fork fires, 0.71 inches of rain fell at Skalkaho Pass, and the nearby Coyote fire reported just over one-half inch of rain yesterday. In spite of the rain some hotspots persist within fire perimeters, but fires are mostly smoldering.
Officials caution, though, that a warm, dry fall lead to more fires.
While little lightning occurs in the fall, the many hunters in the woods makes it a time when most human-caused fires occur in Southwest Montana. The Middle Fork fires are being fought by 738 fire personnel, using 32 engines, six bulldozers, and 10 helicopters. The fires have now burned an estimated 24,933 acres in eight fires. At the Mussigbrod fires, nearly a mile of fire line was built along the edge of the fire by hand, on the fire's east side. An additional 1 miles of line was built using bulldozers and explosives.