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Wildfire under control east of Fort Belknap

A wind driven wildfire burned about 1,000 acres east of the Fort Belknap Agency last Wednesday afternoon and evening. According to Byard Lame Bull, Fort Belknap's Acting Fire Management Officer, the fire began about 2:30 p.m. and winds gusting to 60 miles per hour eventually created a fire five to six miles long and a mile wide in some areas. Lame Bull said in a midmorning phone interview on Thursday, "We are doing mop up operations and the fire is 95 percent contained. A few cottonwoods and bales of hay are still burning." The fire, per Lame Bull, was under control by about 11 p.m. on Wednesday evening.

The general area of the fire was north of the old "pink church," east of Fort Belknap Agency along Highway 2. Lame Bull said the cause of the fire was unclear but was likely human-caused as there was no lightning reported on Wednesday. He said there was no final assessment on losses but there were no reported injuries or loss of livestock.

Several local fire protection agencies responded and Lame Bull said about 50-60 firefighters were involved in controlling the fire. Units responding to the fire came from regional fire departments at Fort Belknap, Rocky Boy, Fort Peck, Dotson, Malta and Lewistown. Blaine County units included firefighters and equipment from Harlem, Hogeland, Turner and Chinook. Agency units responding included the Bureau of Land Management, Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge and the Montana Department of Natural Resources. As late as Thursday morning a few firefighting units were still on scene.

Local fire officials who were at the scene said the fire, because of the wind, was jumping roads before being contained. One county firefighter said the fire was finally stopped along White Bear Road.