Pot Mountain Fire detected in Bob Marshall Wilderness

The Pot Mountain Fire was reported on Aug. 18 and confirmed by both a fixed wing infra-red reconnaissance flight and a helicopter flight that afternoon.  

The fire was mapped at approximately 90 acres Tuesday afternoon by infra-red mapping. The fire is located deep in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, in the Pentagon Creek drainage near the headwaters of the Spotted Bear River.  

There was recent lightning activity in the drainage.  

It is burning in heavy dead and down timber, adjacent to sparsely vegetated, high alpine ridges and avalanche chutes. Yesterday, hot and dry conditions in the afternoon caused an increase in fire activity and smoke was visible from the Rocky Mountain Front to the East and ridge tops within the wilderness area.  

The fire suppression strategy for this fire is point and zone protection due to the rugged high elevation terrain combined with current vegetation conditions, and natural barriers that inhibit fire growth. Fire managers are closing the following trails to provide for public safety near the fire area: 

Pentagon Creek Trail #173 from junction of Chair Mountain Trail #686 to junction with Switchback Trail #177. 

Pentagon Creek Trail #173 from junction with Switchback Pass Trail #177 to junction with Spotted Bear River Trail. #83.  

Pot Mountain (Elk Ridge) Trail #359 – in its entirety. 

Switchback Pass Trail #177 – in its entirety. 

Trail #732 from Flathead National Forest Boundary to junction of Switchback Pass Trail #177.