MISSOULA, Mont. – Firefighters detected the Deer Fire yesterday about 5 miles southeast of Missoula and 4 miles Southwest of Turah and the I-90 in the Pattee Canyon and Deer Creek area.
The fire is currently about 50 to 100 acres and is burning in timber and mixed conifer trees on the upper one third of the slope. Fire behavior is creeping, torching and spotting.
Ground resources are improving access to the area and firefighters have established an anchor point and are engaged in suppression efforts.
Crews have ordered assistance. They have asked for five more crews, three helicopters, four large airtankers, two dozers, one water tender and three engines.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
Lolo National Forest, who posted an update this morning about the fire, said that the fire is in a high visibility area and asked members of the public to avoid the area to give firefighters space to operate safely.
An area closure for the fire is expected to be implemented soon, they added.
