MISSOULA — An update from https://www.mtfireinfo.org/ shows the Butler Creek Fire northwest of Missoula has grown to 304 acres as of mid-afternoon on Monday. The blaze remains 0% contained.
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An evacuation order remains in effect for the West Butler Lavelle Creek Zone. The earlier evacuation order for the Indreland and Buffalo Speedway Zone has been lowered to an evacuation warning.
Fire officials told MTN earlier on Monday that over 50 homes had been evacuated due to the Butler Creek Fire. Visit missoula.co/evacuationmap to see the areas affected.
The cause of the blaze, which was reported early Monday morning, remains under investigation.
(third report: 12:20 p.m. - July 22, 2024)
The Butler Creek Fire 7 miles northwest of Missoula has burned 220 acres and remains 0% contained as of late Monday morning.
Fire officials tell MTN News that 53 homes have been evacuated and it's not known at this time if any structures have burned.
An evacuation order remains in effect for the West Butler Lavelle Creek Zone. The earlier evacuation order for the Indreland and Buffalo Speedway Zone has been lowered to an evacuation warning.
The area covered by the change includes all of Buffalo Speedway, Indreland Lane east of Buffalo Speedway, and streets accessed off Buffalo Speedway such as Kit Lane, Karamu Lane, Patinella Court and Brow Tine Drive.
Butler Creek Road is only open to residents and for necessary traffic. Drivers are asked to combine trips and slow down in the area.
The American Red Cross of Montana has opened an Evacuation shelter at the Christ the King Catholic Church, 1400 Gerald Ave, Missoula. Red Cross services are free and available to all impacted. People who need assistance can call 1-800-RED-CROSS.
The Missoula Rural Fire District responded to the blaze at 1:30 a.m. on Monday and was quickly joined by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC).
According to a news release, several agencies have been responding to the fire, which is burning west of Butler Creek Road in grass and heavy timber. Additional resources have been ordered and a local Type 3 team assumed command at 8 a.m.
Crews have been working to clear vegetation and to create a strong fuel break. Two helicopters have been dropping buckets of water on the fire to cool the fire’s edge and reduce spread.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Home and property owners can sign up for emergency alerts at Smart911.com.
(second report: 11:29 a.m. - July 22, 2024)
The Missoula County Sheriff's Office has changed the evacuation order that was put in place for people living in the area of the Butler Creek Fire.
An evacuation warning is now in effect for the Indreland and Buffalo Speedway zone. The Indreland and Buffalo Speedway zone includes all of Buffalo Speedway, Indreland Lane east of Buffalo Speedway. This include streets accessed off of Buffalo Speedway including Kit Lane, Karamu Lane, Patinella Court and Brow Tine Drive.
The Sheriff's Office advises that people returning to their homes to watch for emergency responders in the area, not stop along the roadway and to keep traffic to a minimum.
An evacuation order remains in effect for the West Butler Lavalle Creek Evacuation Zone. Residents will be allowed to access their homes between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. on Monday so that people can gather any needed supplies and tend to any livestock.
(first report: 7:59 a.m. - July 22, 2024)
A wildfire that has broken out in the Butler Creek area has prompted evacuation orders and warnings to be issued.
The Butler Creek Fire has prompted the Missoula County Sheriff's Office to issue an evacuation order for the Indreland and Buffalo Speedway zone and the West Butler Lavelle Creek Zone. People are ordered to leave the area immediately.
Indreland and Buffalo Speedway zone includes all of Buffalo Speedway, Indreland Lane east of Buffalo Speedway. This includes streets accessed off of Buffalo Speedway including Kit Lane, Karamu Lane, Patinella Court and Brow Tine Drive.
The West Butler Lavelle Creek Zone includes all of Lavelle Creek and residents on the west side of Butler Creek Road.
An evacuation warning is in effect on the east side of Butler Creek Road from the intersection of Lavelle Creek Road to Eloise Way on Point Six Road, including Butler View Lane, portions of Butler Ford Road, and Dodd Ranch Road.
A map of the evacuation zones can be viewed here.
The blaze was reported at approximately 1:20 a.m. on Monday and has burned an estimated 200 acres according to https://www.mtfireinfo.org/.
Butler Creek Road is currently closed at the intersection with MacArthur Drive.
