Fire At Standstill For Third Day

The Shepard Mountain fire huffed and puffed billows of heavy smoke Sunday, but more than 800 firefighters and friendly weather held it to a standstill for a third day.

Fire bosses estimated the fire would be contained by Thursday evening and were allowing homeowners to return briefly to inspect damage to their property. A daylong escorted visit was planned for today.

Firefighters “made excellent headway” on Sunday, information officer Bill Pidanick said. “The crews went out and just busted it today. They exceeded all expectations.”

The wilderness portion of the fire was 50 percent contained, while portions of the fire outside wilderness areas was 60 percent contained, Pidanick said.

“It’s beginning to wind down,” he said. “They’re thinking about releasing some of the structure engines (33 fire engines protecting homes) today.”

The fire destroyed 32 summer homes and burned 12,800 acres of the Custer National Forest and the Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness west of Red Lodge, but has gained no new ground since Thursday.

“Nothing in the weather, temperatures or humidity or wind, is a concern, but some areas were burning yesterday. There was a lot of smoke,” information officer Ladd Coates said Sunday afternoon.