DNRC reports 42 active wildfires in the state of which 9 popped up in the past 24 hours.
The newest major wildfire is the Deer Fire, 5 miles southeast of Missoula in the Pattee Canyon/Deer Creek area (Pictured), 3 miles southeast of the Crazy Canyon Trailhead, and 1.5 miles north of Miller Peak. The fire can be seen from I-90 east of Missoula.
There are 124 members of a Type 3 Incident Management Team working this blaze, which appears to be human-caused and is under investigation.
South of Ovando, 2 fires have merged — the Green Mountain Fire, 6 miles south of Ovando and the Garnet Fire, 12 miles south of that city. Both were lightning-caused and continue to scorch 70 acres with 75% containment. The Western Montana Type 3 Incident Management Team of 53 firefighters are trying to keep a lid on the fires as new fire sources keep popping up.
All the other major fires in the state are now fully contained.
