HAMILTON - The Hog Trough Fire burning on the Bitterroot National Forest has grown slightly to 798 acres.
Containment on the blaze has grown to 41%.
The blaze — which is 18 miles southeast of Hamilton — was discovered on July 17 and is burning in rugged and remote terrain in the burn fire scar from the 2005 Signal Rock Fire.
No structures are currently threatened.
Fire managers report rews have completed removing hazardous trees along the 5071 Road.
Additionally, hotshot crews are continuing to set up hose lays and sprinklers to increase the humidity in the dense vegetation along the constructed line in the Railroad Creek drainage.
Forest Service 75 (Skalkaho-Rye) Road is currently closed from the junction of Skalkaho Highway to near the Skalkaho Creek Trailhead. Forest Service 5071 Road is closed.
There are 328 people assigned to the Hog Trough Fire.
Road Closures:
- Skalkaho Road (Forest Service road 75) and Forest Service road 711 are both closed at the junction of Skalkaho Highway, including the ancillary roads leading from the 711 Road.
- Skalkaho Road is open past Mile Marker 5 (Skalkaho Creek-Jerry Lake Trailhead #503).
- Forest Service roads 5070 and 5071 are closed.
Trail Closures:
- Railroad Creek, National Forest System Trail #77 to Trail #313 at the gate.
- Weasel Creek, National Forest System Trail #156 from milepost 0.00 at its junction with NFSR #461.
- A section of the Bitterroot Rock Creek Divide Trail #313, National Forest System Trail #313 where it intersects Trail #77 Railroad Creek, Weasel Creek Trail #156.
- Skalkaho Creek – Jerry Lake Trail #503, National Forest System Trail #503
Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest Area Closure:
- See Closure Map and Closure Order for Pintler Ranger Station of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest Closure Area
Bitterroot National Forest Area Closure:
- See Closure Map and Closure Order for Darby Ranger Station of the Bitterroot National Forest Closure Area.
