Sand Creek Fire Damages Maverick Mountain Ski Area Chairlift in Montana
The Sand Creek wildfire in southwest Montana has damaged the ski lift at Maverick Mountain Ski Area. Evacuation orders have expanded as the fire grows.
Key takeaways
- The Sand Creek fire in southwest Montana has damaged the ski lift at Maverick Mountain Ski Area.
- Evacuation orders have been expanded to more neighborhoods due to the fire's growth.
- The fire has consumed nearly 16,000 acres, threatening structures and recreational areas.
- Over 300 personnel are involved in containment efforts for the Sand Creek and Bobcat Lakes fires.
The Sand Creek fire has damaged the ski lift at Maverick Mountain Ski Area in southwest Montana. The wildfire spread up the mountain on Monday evening, also impacting a small ski shack, according to Beaverhead County Sheriff David Wendt.
Evacuation orders were expanded on Tuesday to include more neighborhoods in the fire's path. The Beaverhead County Sheriff's Office issued a "Go" evacuation status, indicating immediate danger, from Billings Creek north, extending from Polaris to certain subdivisions. Mountain View, Highboy Drive, Sawtooth Road, and Clark Creek Road are also under the order.
The Sand Creek Fire has grown to nearly 16,000 acres, fueled by conditions over the weekend. More than 300 personnel are working to contain this fire and the Bobcat Lakes Fire. Fire crews are engaged in structure protection efforts in the Grasshopper Valley, using local water sources to operate sprinklers around evacuated cabins.
Officials are working to protect recreational sites such as Elkhorn Hot Springs and Maverick Mountain Ski Area. Firefighting efforts include using water retardant drops from planes and clearing brush to impede the fire's spread. Authorities anticipate a decrease in extreme fire weather conditions later in the week.
Sources reviewed
Project Chintan independently synthesized and analyzed information cross-checked across the sources listed above.
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