Crews fully contain Sawlog Fire near Wisdom

UPDATE: May 14 at 8:17 a.m.

The Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest released what they said is their final update on the Sawlog Fire burning near the Big Hole River. 

Crews have fully contained the blaze at 2,030 acres burned. 

Recent weather and muddy conditions have crews assessing what parts of the fire area they can access and when, the release from the national forest said. Today, those crews will aim to monitor the perimeter. 

The national forest said no smoke was visible from the fire on Tuesday and rain fell on the fire area most of the day. 

The fishing access and camping closures remain in place, however, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Park said in a release that the Fish Trap Fishing Access Site will reopen on Thursday. Additionally, some roads and trails have now been closed: National Forest System Road #8242, NFS Trail #2180, and a portion of NFS Trail #2099.

However, the national forest has lifted the temporary flight restriction over the fire area. 

UPDATE: May 13 at 10:22 a.m.

The Sawlog Fire in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest grew ten acres over Monday night into Tuesday and is now 94 percent contained, according to a release from the national forest. 

Crews used infrared to determine that there are no heat spots along the edges of the fire. Helicopters will not be in use today due to the weather forecast. Yesterday the fire got only small amounts of rain and saw gusty winds. Still, the fire mostly creeped and smoldered in sagebrush and lodgepole pine. 

Crews expect the incident command post to be taken down by the end of Wednesday given the current fire activity and its high containment. 

The Sawlog dispersed camping area and the Fishtrap Creek fishing access remain closed on Tuesday. 

UPDATE: May 12 at 8:54 a.m.

The Sawlog Fire is at 90 percent contained on Monday morning, a release from the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest said, while the size of the fire remains at 2,020 acres. 

On Sunday, crews utilized a two-hour window with good weather to use infrared to locate hot spots of the fire. Storms passed over the fire, but no rain fell on the flames, the national forest said. Crews hope there will be chances for rain in the coming days. 

UPDATE: May 11 at 10:24 a.m.

Containment on the Sawlog Fire has increased to 65 percent on Sunday morning, while the fire slowly grew to 2,020 acres over the weekend. That growth shows what has been burned on both sides of Sawlog Creek.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has closed the Fishtrap Creek Fishing Access Site on the Big Hole River due to the fire activity. 

Crews on Sunday are mopping up hotspots and reinforcing fire lines. While they expect cooling temperatures to aid in the attack, crews also know that with thunderstorms may come gusty winds, keeping the fire smoldering.

UPDATE: May 9 at 9:15 a.m.

Crews have increased the containment of the Sawlog Fire to 30% as of a report sent Friday morning.

Fire suppression is planned for a 200 acre "donut hole" on both sides of Sawlog Creek.

A report from the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest says this tactic has the highest probability of success for reducing the unburned fuels between the uncontrolled fire edge and the "dead and downed" fuel component.

UPDATE: May 8 at 4:54 p.m.

MONTANA - The Sawlog Fire is now 20% contained, according to an update from the Bureau of Land Management. Efforts are ongoing to control the blaze, which remains at 1,412 acres.

BLM shared this video to social media of the fire:

There are 173 personnel working on the fire, with increased air and ground support on the scene. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Yesterday's infrared flights successfully located hot spots, aiding firefighters in mop-up operations along key firelines. However, a dry cold front moving in today could bring gusty winds up to 40 mph, potentially increasing fire behavior.

Officials remind the public that the Sawlog dispersed camping area is closed. A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place, grounding drones. "If you fly, we can’t," the Bureau emphasized.

For more information, visit the Sawlog Fire InciWeb page.

Continued gratitude was expressed to the crews, partners, and neighbors working together to protect lives and land, highlighting Montana values and strength.

UPDATE: May 8 at 9:48 a.m.

The Sawlog Fire did not grow Wednesday, sitting at a reported 1,412 acres Thursday morning.

A reconnaissance flight and infrared UAS done Wednesday showed scattered heat present in the smoldering fuels throughout the fire footprint.

Mop-up continued along the previously constructed sawline and handline on the southern edge and the northern flank, and around 20% of the footprint has been completed.

Operations will continue, expanding along both flanks of the fire and working toward 100% completion.

A dry cold front along with gusty winds is expected to increase fire behavior Thursday.

The full Fire update for May 8, 2025 can be downloaded and viewed below:

UPDATE: May 7 at 8:53 a.m.

The Sawlog Fire is now estimated to be at 1,412 acres. The Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest said this change is due to being able to obtain more accurate mapping.

The containment on the fire is still at 10 percent on Wednesday. Crews are expecting the activity of the fire to increase with warmer temperatures in the coming days. 

For Wednesday, crews are still assessing the risk to structures on the west side of the fire. Smokejumpers are working along the north edges of the fire with help from a skidgen, a large machine that is a combined fire engine and log skidder. The national forest says this will help the jumpers with water missions. 

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

UPDATE: May 6 at 10:22 a.m.

Still hovering at an estimated 1,500 acres burned, the Sawlog Fire is 10 percent contained on Tuesday morning. 

Thanks to cooler temperatures in the 30s and 40s, the activity of the fire was "limited to creeping and smoldering," according to a release from the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest.

On Monday, helicopters couldn't fly because of the weather. Additional resources are on their way, the release said, with crews hoping for a boat to bring firefighters across the Big Hole River. 

Despite the rain and snow overnight, crews are expecting the fire to pick up again with rising temperatures throughout the week. Currently, 121 personnel are on the fire. 

UPDATE: May 5 at 9:05 a.m.

Cloud cover and cool temperatures on Sunday helped slow the spread of the Sawlog Fire, a release from the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest said. 

On Monday morning, the fire remains around an estimated 1,500 acres. 

Despite some rain and snow overnight, the dead and down is still fueling the fire. Crews say the precipitation could also complicate access to the fire on Monday by muddying roads.

The cause is still under investigation with the national forest noting there were no prescribed burns in the area of the Sawlog Fire recently. 

UPDATE: May 4 at 8:50 a.m.

Helicopter mapping from Saturday night estimates the Sawlog Fire to be at about 1,500 acres burned Sunday morning. This is up from the 383 acres reported Saturday night. 

Gusty winds added to the extreme fire behavior crews were experiencing through Saturday. The latest update from the Forest Service says the fire expanded toward the footprint of the Alder Fire of 2021.

Crews plan to attack particularly areas on the west side of the Big Hole River, securing edges and mopping up hot spots. Eight smokejumpers are expected to arrive to the fire today. 

"Given the limited access, the jumpers are the best resource to get into various inaccessible areas of the fire," the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest release states. The smokejumpers will also help with scouting with the aim to protect both private land and infrastructure. 

The report says crews were unable to get the infrared mapping they'd hoped for on Saturday night, so acreage is coming from helicopter mapping instead. 

UPDATE: May 4 at 8:06 a.m.

The Sawlog Fire on the south side of the Big Hole River and Highway 43 has burned 383 acres with five percent containment as of the latest report on Saturday evening. 

The fire, discovered on the afternoon of May 1, caused the Bureau of Land Management to close dispersed camping in the Sawlog area, located at the Big Hole River ford site, according to the Forest Service's release.

On Saturday, firefighter experienced "extreme fire behavior," which fire officials said is "very uncommon" for this time of year. While the dry fuels like dead and downed trees are likely playing a role, the cause of the fire remains undetermined. 

Infrared mapping was ordered overnight for the fire. 

Original coverage: May 2, 2025 at 11:07 a.m.

BEAVERHEAD COUNTY, Mont. - The Sawlog Fire, burning in Beaverhead County on Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands, has burned approximately 276 acres.

Around 25 firefighters are currently assigned to the fire and another crew and a light helicopter are on their way. A fire investigator is also responding to find the fire's cause.

Friday's efforts are aimed at keeping the fire west of Sawlog Road.

The fire was first discovered Thursday afternoon.