Emerald Hills on fire in Billings (FYI)

CARDIAC_CATS · Post by **CARDIAC_CATS** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 2:22 pm

There is a mandatory evacuation going on in the Emerald Hills in Billings. The fire has exploded even more since around noon today and I'm sure there are a lot of houses in the mix out there. That has always been a dangerous area as it has long grass/pine trees and is dry as a tinder box this year. It is a very good thing the wind is down right now though so hopefully they can get a handle on it. You can see a camera view of it from www.ktvq.com site.

Post by **kmax** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 2:31 pm

That's really too bad, that is a nice area but like you said it always seemed very ripe for this type of thing. I hope they are able to get it under control quickly.

Speaking of fires, was heading back out South 19th today returning from lunch and noticed a huge plume of spoke coming from the Gallatins. Looking from 19th it looked to be a ways south of Leverich canyon. Quite a bit of smoke, but I hadn't heard anything about a fire out there so not sure if it is new or what.

WYCAT · Post by **WYCAT** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 2:40 pm

I hope my old house doesn't go up in smoke?

CARDIAC_CATS · Post by **CARDIAC_CATS** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 2:41 pm

It looked bad just a while ago, but does look better now. Just very lucky it is not blowing today in Billings ... VERY LUCKY or there would quite a few houses up in smoke.

longhorn_22 · Post by **longhorn_22** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 3:32 pm

I noticed it at lunch. The smoke was quite high in the air. I hope it doesnt get out of hand.

Platinumcat · Post by **Platinumcat** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 9:29 am

kmax wrote:That's really too bad, that is a nice area but like you said it always seemed very ripe for this type of thing. I hope they are able to get it under control quickly.

Speaking of fires, was heading back out South 19th today returning from lunch and noticed a huge plume of spoke coming from the Gallatins. Looking from 19th it looked to be a ways south of Leverich canyon. Quite a bit of smoke, but I hadn't heard anything about a fire out there so not sure if it is new or what.

KMAX, I took my kids up to Hyalite resevoir on Tuesday. I saw that plume of smoke. It looked like it was right behind the peak to the South of the lake. I was pretty concerned at the time as the wind was blowing about 25 mph. As we headed down the mountain, several fire fighting vehicles went by on their way up. But, I don't recall seeing anything in the paper the last two days about it.....must have gotten it under control.

Platinumcat · Post by **Platinumcat** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 9:32 am

CARDIAC_CATS wrote:There is a mandatory evacuation going on in the Emerald Hills in Billings. The fire has exploded even more since around noon today and I'm sure there are a lot of houses in the mix out there. That has always been a dangerous area as it has long grass/pine trees and is dry as a tinder box this year. It is a very good thing the wind is down right now though so hopefully they can get a handle on it. You can see a camera view of it from www.ktvq.com site.

I was talking to the wife of a firefighter in Billings on Wednesday. She said that her husband's team had been out fighting that all night (evidently they didn't have to respond to this but felt they needed to). She said it was a real bad thing as that subdivision only has one way in/out. I guess it's been a real concern for firefighters for several years as to the potential consequences (also the fuel source as you noted). When her husband got home, he told her about how the trees were just exploding when they caught on fire....crazy!!

I hope the fire has been contained by now...any news?

catbooster · Post by **catbooster** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 9:33 am

I was told the Big Creek fire, over the hill in the Paradise valley, had jumped the lines and blown up in the wind yesterday.

CARDIAC_CATS · Post by **CARDIAC_CATS** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 10:09 am

barechestcat wrote:
CARDIAC_CATS wrote:There is a mandatory evacuation going on in the Emerald Hills in Billings. The fire has exploded even more since around noon today and I'm sure there are a lot of houses in the mix out there. That has always been a dangerous area as it has long grass/pine trees and is dry as a tinder box this year. It is a very good thing the wind is down right now though so hopefully they can get a handle on it. You can see a camera view of it from www.ktvq.com site.
I was talking to the wife of a firefighter in Billings on Wednesday. She said that her husband's team had been out fighting that all night (evidently they didn't have to respond to this but felt they needed to). She said it was a real bad thing as that subdivision only has one way in/out. I guess it's been a real concern for firefighters for several years as to the potential consequences (also the fuel source as you noted). When her husband got home, he told her about how the trees were just exploding when they caught on fire....crazy!!

I hope the fire has been contained by now...any news?

We had light rain this morning that did help a lot from the looks of it. However there are 30-50 MPH wind gusts projected for later today which could start this right back up. I don't think this fire as breathed it's last gasp yet. Hopefully it doesn't flare back up again. They were VERY VERY lucky that the fire went to the south east and didnt' spread due EAST or it would have hit a full subdivision etc. Narrowly missed that! If you go onto the www.billingsgazette site you can see in a couple arial views how close the fire was to overtaking some subdivisions etc. And from a person that used to live out there, there is only one way in and one way out pretty much through thick brush/trees lining most of the road etc.

THANKS AND MORE THANKS TO ALL THE FIREFIGHTERS AND VOLUNTEERS THAT HELPED KNOCK THIS FIRE DOWN!!

Emerald Hills on fire in Billings (FYI)

Emerald Hills on fire in Billings (FYI)

Re: Emerald Hills on fire in Billings (FYI)

Re: Emerald Hills on fire in Billings (FYI)