Montana wildfire leads to evacuation of homes

RED LODGE, Mont. – More than a dozen houses south of here were evacuated Tuesday evening when a wildfire started north of the Rock Creek Resort.

The Turkey fire broke out about 3:30 p.m. about four miles south of Red Lodge. Winds gusting up to 60 mph fanned the flames, and by 7 p.m. the fire was estimated at between 200 and 400 acres.

“A fire this late in the season is relatively uncommon but not unusual,” said Red Lodge Fire Chief Tom Kuntz.

As many as 16 homes on Meeteetse Trail, on the southern edge of the fire, were evacuated, and six or eight homes had been in the direct path of flames. Fire crews were able to protect those homes.

Highway 212 was closed at Ski Run Road near the Custer National Forest office about 4:30 p.m., but was reopened two hours later.

Kuntz said the flames were fueled by winds in excess of 60 miles per hour, which also downed tree limbs and power lines, leaving about 1,700 NorthWestern Energy customers without power. Power was restored by 9 p.m., said NorthWestern spokeswoman Claudia Rapkoch.

Kuntz estimated the fire was 25 percent contained and hoped to have it under control by this morning.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.