Fire at Hearst Lake area estimated at 3 acres, cause currently unknown: DNRC (updated)

A fire that broke out Wednesday morning in the area of Hearst Lake about 10 miles southwest of Anaconda is estimated to be at 3 acres in size, and the cause of the fire is currently unknown according to the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) Fire Protection Unit for Anaconda, which has jurisdiction for the fire. It is currently 0% contained.

Smoke from the Hearst Lake Fire, as it has been named by DNRC, was spotted Wednesday morning, Oct. 2 rising above the hills beneath Mt. Haggin. Firefighters are currently on scene and a DNRC helicopter is en route. While there are no closures in place, the public is asked to avoid the area.

The fire is burning in remote terrain near Hearst Lake and no structures are currently threatened, a DNRC news release stated. Under DNRC jurisdiction, two engine crews have accessed the fire on foot and observed active fire behavior with moderate potential for growth, according to DNRC. The helicopter en route is a Type 2 DNRC helicopter to support the ground operations with water bucket drops, DNRC stated.

The weather is currently projected to see a dry cold front that will bring in westerly winds gusting in the 10-20 mph range into Wednesday evening, increasing potential for active fire behavior, though another cold front is expected Friday into Saturday with the potential for light precipitation, DNRC stated.

The are no evacuation warnings or orders issued at this time, nor are there closures in place as stated though DNRC is asking the public to avoid the area.

Stage 1 fire restrictions have been lifted in Anaconda-Deer Lodge County. However, fire managers are reminding the public that fire season is still here, especially with the above-average temperatures in the area, so residents and visitors are asked to be particularly careful when outdoors to limit human-caused sparks, DRNC stated. Camp fires should never be left unattended and should be properly extinguished, and if it is too hot to touch then it is too hot to leave, DNRC stated. Visit www.MTFireInfo.org for fire prevention tips.