By Sunday, Aug. 13, the Sunrise Fire had grown to 18,629 acres and was 20 percent contained. The fire was moving down Verde Creek and Trout Creek. Stage III evacuation orders went into place on Aug. 9 for Cougar Gulch, to join Quartz Creek and Verde Creek Zones. The fires growth continued in all directions except to the west with possible structure damage. If southwest winds prevailed it would threaten traffic along Interstate 90, Montana Rail Link, transmission lines and homes.

A red flag warning had gone into effect on Saturday evening as hot, dry conditions plague the area with 25 mph winds, increasing the chance for spotting and the fire spreading along terrain aligned with the wind. On Wednesday of last week, Montana Gov. Steve Bullock visited the Tarkio Fire Camp and later tweeted that he had visited with the folks working hard to fight the Sunrise Fire and protect Montanans and their property.

“We will continue to do everything we can until every single fire is put out,” he said.

It was also reported that a team of reporters from The National Geographic would be out to do a story on the firefighters at the Tarkio Fire Camp. Last weekend 40 members of Type II Incident Management Team led by Shawn Pearson was replaced by a Type I Incident Management Team led by Doug Thurman.

Before leaving, Pearson commended Mineral County Commissioner Laurie Johnston, who has been diligently reporting on the progress of the fires. She grew up in the Quartz Creek area and her husband, Kelly, is on the line fighting the fires.

Meanwhile, the Burdette Fire has burned 648 acres and was 70 percent contained by Sunday. In and around Mineral County 26 other wildfires are burning, with the Lolo Peak Fire at 7,900 acres and evacuation orders in place. The Rice Ridge Fire burning near Seeley Lake was at 11,277 acres with reports of some of the most unhealthy air quality ever monitored in the area. The air quality near the Mineral County fires remain in the unhealthy range.

The Sunrise Fire cost has now close to $17 million.