Strawberry Fire (2017)

The Strawberry Fire was a wildfire burning eight miles south of Swift Reservoir in the Flathead National Forest in the Bob Marshall Wilderness in Montana in the United States. The fire was started by lightning and was reported on August 25, 2017. It has burned a total of 30,461 acres (123 km2). The fire threatened communities around the Swift Reservoir, including tribal lands of the Blackfeet Nation and Heart Butte, Montana. Its estimated containment date was November 1, 2017.

Strawberry Fire
Strawberry Fire on September 11, 2017
LocationFlathead National Forest, Montana, United States
Coordinates48.089°N 113.015°W / 48.089; -113.015
Statistics[1]
Date(s)August 25, 2017 (2017-08-25) – November 1, 2017 (2017-11-01)
Burned area30,461 acres (123 km2)
CauseLightning
Map
Location of fire in Montana.

Events

The Strawberry Fire was started by a lightning strike on August 25, 2017, approximately 1.5 miles southwest of Swift Dam near Dupuyer, Montana. The fire moved up to the west side of Mount Richmond, one mile from the Swift Reservoir. The Swift Dam Campground was closed along with areas around the fire in Flathead National Forest.[2]

By September 12th, the fire had expanded rapidly to 11,325 acres (46 km2) due to heavy winds. The fire burned in Birch Creek, resulting in mandatory evacuations of homes and ranches in an area from Heart Butte to Birch Creek and Birch Creek to Ben English Coulee.[3] The next day, the fire was burning up Strawberry Creek and on a ridge between Cap Mountain and Winter Points. The area around the Cox Creek drainage was closed and structure protection was put in place at Sabido Cabin.[4]

Evacuations and closures

Closures were in place for forest areas surrounding the fire.[1]

References
  1. "Strawberry Fire". InciWeb. Flathead National Forest, U.S. Forest Service. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  2. "Crucifixion Creek, Strawberry, & Scalp Fires - Rocky Mountain RD 9-10-2017". InciWeb. Flathead National Forest, U.S. Forest Service. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  3. "Crucifixion Creek, Strawberry, & Scalp Fires - Rocky Mountain RD 9-12-2017". InciWeb. Flathead National Forest, U.S. Forest Service. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  4. "Crucifixion Creek, Strawberry, & Scalp Fires - Rocky Mountain RD 9-14-2017". InciWeb. Flathead National Forest, U.S. Forest Service. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
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