Sawtooth Fire Settles Down

The Bitterroot National Forest management team of Russ Williams is taking over work on the Sawtooth forest fire west of Hamilton.

The fire continues to burn on the south ridge of Sawtooth Canyon, moving west into the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness. Two heavy helicopters will continue to drop water on hot spots, while crews are continuing rehabilitation and mop-up of all fire lines.

There are still three trails closed because of the 5,882 acre fire. They are the Sawtooth Creek Trail, the Roaring Lion Trail and the Canyon Creek Trail. The fire remains 45 percent contained.

Air quality in the Bitterroot Valley was "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" in the monitoring report from the Ravalli County Courthouse air particulate count. The cumulative 8-hour and 24-hour counts were into the "Unhealthy" levels.

Smoke continues to come into the valley from fires in Idaho and in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness. They include the 338,7476 acre Mustang Fire, the 47,562 Sheep Fire, the 55,625 acre Powell Complex, the 42,170 acre McGuire Fire and the 33,238 acre Porcupine Fire. The Magruder Road remains closed between Montana and Idaho.