Crews struggle with Dunn fire

By Matthew Brown - 08/29/2008

Larry Mayer / The Billings Gazette Firefighters burn grasses as flames from the Dunn Mountain fire approach in the background Thursday in Shepard. Calmer weather on Thursday allowed firefighters to resume their fight against a central Montana wildfire that has charred an estimated 126 square miles.

BILLINGS — Crews struggled Friday to contain a sprawling central Montana wildfire that has burned more than 126 square miles and repeatedly jumped fire lines intended to halt its advance.

The Dunn fire is burning through largely uninhabited grasslands, sage brush and stands of juniper and pine about 40 miles north of Billings. After shifting directions Thursday night, it was moving slowly northwest on Friday evening, back into the Bull Mountains south of Roundup.

"Most of the fire looks really good, but that north and northwest corner is being really active and it may have jumped the line again," said fire information officer Dwayne Andrews.

Ten ranch houses are considered threatened, but no evacuations have been ordered. The fire destroyed a bridge on Thursday and killed at least one cow.

The fire started last week in the Bull Mountains and was initially held at just 600 acres. But strong winds over several days this week sent it racing across the landscape southeast toward Pompeys Pillar National Monument.

The portions of the fire closest to the monument were under control, and it was not considered in danger.

The rapid spread of the fire at times has forced firefighters to suspend their suppression efforts for safety reasons.

Wind speeds dropped to 5 to 15 miles per hour Friday, after hitting 40 miles per hour several times earlier in the week. Andrews said the lighter winds would allow crews to make gains on the blaze. Almost 200 people are involved in the effort, along with 34 wildland fire engines, five helicopters and a tanker aircraft that was dropping fire retardant along the edges of the flames.

Andrews said a specialized firefighting team from Idaho was due to take over the operation Friday night. The team had been scheduled to take over Thursday, but waited a day to coordinate with local agencies that have been battling the blaze.