Thanks to the firefighting efforts of our Lolo National Forest partners, the Area Closure associated with the Deer Fire has been lifted. The area is now open, as are the Skyline Ridge Trailhead and the Sky Fall/Sky Bound trail loop on the Mount Dean Stone Community Forest.
Fire crews are still working on suppression efforts in the area. Please respect our firefighters, give them the space they need to work, and use caution when traveling through burned areas. The post-fire landscape may change unexpectedly: dead trees can fall, and heavy rains may trigger washouts or debris flows.
For reference on trailhead locations on the Mount Dean Stone Community Forest, view the Mount Dean Stone Map.
Thank you, firefighters!
Thanks to the efforts of our partners at the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, the small wildfire burning on Mitten Mountain, in the Mount Dean Stone Community Forest, is in a controlled status. All roads and trails remain open at this time.
This .1-acre fire was started by lighting and was reported on Tuesday, August 5th in morning. While under control, smoke is visible and firefighting crews are still actively working in the area. If you encounter firefighting crews, please give them the space they need to work.
Five Valleys will provide additional updates as information becomes available. Thank you, firefighters!
The Deer Fire is 90% contained. Future updates will be dictated by fire activity and/or significant changes.
While crews finish mop-up work, the July 22 Area Closure is still in effect. This closure continues the closure of the Skyline Ridge Trailhead and the Sky Fall/Sky Bound trail loop on the Mount Dean Stone Community Forest.
Five Valleys is working closely with our partners at the Lolo National Forest, and will provide updates about these closures as information becomes available.
For current fire information visit https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/mtlnf-deer-fire
For reference on trailhead locations on the Mount Dean Stone Community Forest view the Mount Dean Stone Map
To support firefighting efforts on the Deer Fire, burning approximately 5 miles southeast of Missoula and 1.2 miles east of Five Valleys' Mount Dean Stone Community Forest, the Skyline Ridge Trailhead and the Sky Fall/Sky Bound trail loop on the have been CLOSED until further notice.
For now, the House of Sky Trail remains accessible as an out-and-back from the Barmeyer and Sousa Trailheads.
The Inez Creek and Little Park Creek Trails are also open, as out-and-backs only, from their respective trailheads in Miller Creek.
**It is possible for recreators to enter the incident area from the House of Sky Trail, Little Park Creek Trail, or Inez Creek Trail. Signs have been posted at mandatory trail turn-around points. It is responsibility of each user to respect the closure area and know where they are**
The best way to support our firefighters is to stay out of the incident area. Wildfires can be unpredictable and can move very quickly. Please respect the closures for your safety and the safety and efficiency of our first responders and stay away from the Upper Pattee Canyon-Deer Creek area and the eastern portion of the Mount Dean Stone Community Forest.
These closures support the Lolo National Forest's July 22 Area Closure. A Temporary Flight Restriction has also been implemented over the incident area. This allows firefighting aircraft to safely work over the fire area. Drones in the area could lead to accidents or slow down wildfire suppression operations - please support our firefighters by respecting these closures and restrictions while in effect.
Five Valleys is carefully monitoring the situation and is working with our partners at the Lolo National Forest. Five Valleys will provide further updates as information becomes available.
For current fire information visit https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/mtlnf-deer-fire
For reference on trailhead locations on the Mount Dean Stone Community Forest view the Mount Dean Stone Map
Partnership and collaboration are key to fighting this 75-acre fire located so close to Missoula. Five Valleys extends our thanks to the USFS, other area fire crews, and our Miller Creek neighbors for all their efforts.
Photo credit: Lolo National Forest
