Just a heads up for anyone coming to Eastern MT to hunt this fall. I live on the Tongue river about 60 miles north of Sheridan WY.
This picture was taken from above my house yesterday afternoon.
The Custer National forest Is on fire! It is generally a hunting destination for out of state hunters because it is the closest block of public land for anyone coming from the east.
The fire in the picture is burning the Tongue River Breaks riding and hiking area.
If you want more information google the Remington fire. It went over 200,000 acres today and is over 80 miles long. It started on the Powder River in Wyoming.
As of today it is 0% contained and we are expecting a wind shift on a cold front tonight. This fire is the real deal. My wife and I got burned over yesterday doing structure protection.
The night before last It made a 20 mile run to the west in 2 hours.
Happy hunting and stay safe out there.

We finally got some rain and got around the fire. 196,000+ acres burned.
I thought I would share some picts now that the dust has settled so to speak

Remington Fire Daily Update 08-24-2024
Remington Fire
Publication Type: News - 08/24/2024 - 17:00

Key Message

The Remington Fire, discovered on Thursday, August 22 at approximately 8 a.m. 20 miles northeast of Leiter, Wyoming, has rapidly spread across the Montana border. The DNRC County Assist Team assumed command of the northern end of the fire on this morning at 6 a.m. The fire is currently 130,000 acres and is burning in short grass and timber on BLM, Forest Service, Wyoming state, Montana state, and privately-owned lands.

Current Status

An Infrared Awareness Assessment (IAA) flight and ground assessments have provided more accurate mapping of the fire perimeter. Last night, crews conducted burnout operations by intentionally setting a controlled fire to consume fuel ahead of advancing flames, creating a barrier to stop the forward spread of fire on the eastern edge. The fire is being held east of the Tongue River near Birney using direct fire suppression and burnout operations on the north end near Odell Creek and Poker Jim Road. Crews are constructing direct line around the western flank of the fire and utilizing heavy equipment to build line on the east side of the fire to the Wyoming State line.

Weather and Fire Behavior

A red flag warning is in effect from 10 a.m. to midnight. Extreme weather is expected, with highs in the upper 90s and wind speeds up to 15 mph. A cold front is anticipated this evening, accompanied by 20-30 mph winds.

PRE-Evacuations And Closures

The reservoir is closed to all watercraft, but the Tongue River Reservoir State Park campground is open under an evacuation warning.

Pre-evacuation warnings have been issued by the Rosebud County Sheriff’s Office for several areas, including Birney Road south of Ashland, the town of Birney, East Fork of Hanging Woman Creek Road, and all of Tongue River Road to the County Line. The Bureau of Land Management also issued pre-evacuation warnings for East-Fork Hanging Woman Road to the Rosebud County line, Odell Creek Road to Ashland/Birney South and Birney.

A temporary shelter is available at the Boys and Girls Club in Lame Deer for all impacted by the fire. Please avoid the Tongue River Road between Ashland and Birney for firefighter safety.

Thanks for posting the info Mark I am not computer smart enough to do that!

Yep, not good!!! It is very dry, and I hope we get a good rain very soon, but it doesn't look like any rain in the near future. Where I'm at I got 1.45 inches of rain since the firs of June till today. Most of those rains were .10 to .15 and those types of rains just don't do enough good.

. storm that dropped a little over 2inches on us, in 24 hrs will make it your way as it moves east. Stay safe as those flat lands brush fires move faster than trucks in the field can keep up or get away, keep plenty of water on truck JIC
Former type 6 engine boss

That is a massive amount of public ground turned black for the next how many years?
If the winds do as they say the fire may go as far east as Diamond Butte and south to Wyoming again.
Massive wasteland.
Prayers for the folks.

Osky

Wow just amazing how fast it clean move.

STAY SAFE MT!

You’re correct but not good for all. Antelope, mule deer, whitetail are not grazers. Antelope especially need sage, greasewood, and other bushes. They cannot survive on grass. Bad hunting years ahead from Tongue river east to SD. Those areas not burned are going to be overgrazed by surviving wildlife.
I think fires this extreme and large have far reaching consequences.

Osky

Actually, sage and greasewood reestablish and can thrive after a fire. It resprouts and starts a new growth and does very well the next year. This is what I have experienced but I believe data and studies after wildfires say the sage does struggle for sustainable. Not to say it still is devasting to wildlife as a whole from upland to big game.

Well, Friday night I will be in the Glendive area. Hope the smoke doesn't ruin my river exploration.

Due to our arid land, we have constant wild fires every year out West . It can support new rejuvenating growth. None the less, I still don’t like them. Hopefully, everybody stays safe including the cattle, sheep, wildlife etc. and no property damage with this fire

Prayers for every ones safety.

ttt

Antelope eat forbs along with sage in winter.
Prairie fires were a integral part of the ecosystem for years until we took over.
It should recover but the timber as stated will take years.

Stay safe MT, I was home this past weekend and could see the smoke bellows from Broadus. Figured you were right in the middle of that mess.