Fire near Plains grows to 1,000 acres
MATT BALDWIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 9 months, 1 week AGO
The Banana Lake Fire burns near Plains on Saturday, May 31, 2025. (Inciweb photo)
Matt Baldwin is regional editor for Hagadone Media Montana. He is a graduate of the University of Montana's School of Journalism. He can be reached at 406-758-4447 or [email protected]. | June 2, 2025 3:00 PM
A wildfire that cropped up Saturday in Sanders County quickly expanded its footprint to about 1,000 acres by Monday.
The uncontained Banana Lake Fire was burning in timber about 4 miles north of Plains between Locust Hill and Montana 28.
A dark plume of smoke could be seen from town when the fire erupted Saturday as unseasonably high temperatures climbed into the 90s.
"The winds were ripping and that's really what made it push," said spokesman Marcel Getz with the Montana Department of Natural Resources.
No evacuation orders had been issued as of Monday, and the cause remained under investigation.
Getz said there are structures in the area of the fire, but none were considered threatened.
The blaze drew a large response on Sunday, including a Hotshot crew, 17 engines and two helicopters. A Type 3 team arrived Monday.
Firefighters were working to build a containment line around the blaze that was showing moderate behavior with some torching and spotting during the heat of the day.
Getz said the fire slowed its progress Sunday and Monday as cooler and more humid weather moved into the region.
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