BLM reduces Bear Creek Fire closure, reopens 11k acres impacted by fire
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(DILLON, Mont.) –The Bureau of Land Management’s Dillon Field Office has reduced its earlier closure order for the Bear Creek Fire, re-opening more than 11,000 acres of public land prior to opening day of archery season. About 5,000 acres of BLM-managed public land remain closed to help with continued mop-up activities on the fire.
The modification of the fire prevention order goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. Sept. 5 and specifically keeps the following areas closed: T10S, R14W, sections 31 and 32; T10S, R15W, section 35; and T11S, R14W, section 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, and 18. Everson Creek Road 1882 is also included in the modified closure order.
The closure order that remains in place prohibits public access to a smaller area in order to avoid conflict with the ongoing fire suppression and rehabilitation activity associated with the fire which to date has burned nearly 12,000 acres in southwest Montana. This closure order also complements the ongoing closure on public land administered by the U.S. Forest Service in the area: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd795986.pdf
Bear Creek Fire crews are currently focusing efforts on mopping-up and rehabilitation.
Dillon BLM Field Manager Amanda James said she felt conditions were right to modify the field office’s earlier order. “Tomorrow is opening season for general archery and we’re pleased that this modification will return an additional 11,800 acres to being available for hunting near the Bear Creek Fire area,” she noted.
A copy of the closure order and a map of the impacted area are available at the Dillon Field Office, 1005 Selway Drive, Dillon, MT 59725. For more information, call (406) 683-8050.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.