MADISON COUNTY – The Virginia Creek Fire burning west of McAllister has grown to 35 acres as of Saturday.
According to InciWeb, the fire is burning in heavy concentrations of mixed conifer fuels with very heavy concentrations of standing dead trees and logs on the ground and is 0% contained.
Forty-four total personnel from the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest and the Madison Valley Volunteer Fire Department are working on the Virginia Creek Fire. Resources also include three engines, one water tender, one helicopter, and one 26-person hand crew.
The fire is located approximately five miles west of McAllister in the Virginia Creek drainage.
On Friday the fire burned towards the west and crews worked to build and strengthen existing containment features on the eastern side of the fire.
Fire personnel are working to keep the fire from advancing past the Meadow Creek and Virginia Creek roads and from burning over the ridgeline above the fire on the southeast side.
Preparations were being made to conduct a burning operation Saturday evening, pending favorable weather conditions, in an effort to slowly bring the fire to the Virginia Creek Road and Meadow Creek Roads.
Virginia Creek Road #1249 and trail #6314 have been closed in order to provide for the safety of firefighting personnel and public. Smoke will be very visible from Norris Hill south to Ennis and for the next few days to come.
