Forest Service will monitor Rainbow Fire west of Anaconda
Fire managers for the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest plan to keep tabs on a wildfire burning some 19 miles west of Anaconda in Queener Basin within the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness.
A Wednesday morning flight over the Rainbow Fire, located on the Pintler Ranger District, mapped it at about 171 acres.
"Current fire activity is classified as moderate," reported the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest.
"Due to dry fuel conditions and steep slopes in excess of 60%, group torching and upslope runs are present along the ridge line on the southern end of Rainbow Mountain," the Forest Service said. "These more significant runs are producing small spot fires out ahead of the main fire, but they remain sheltered within the southwest bowl below Rainbow Mountain.
"Established fire at the lower elevations has exhibited a significant decrease in fire activity, with smoldering, creeping and backing fire present. The major contributing factor for fire growth is the alignment of the wind with the slope on the south to southwest aspect of Rainbow Mountain," the Forest Service said.
The agency said fire managers will continue to keep tabs on the winds and resulting fire behavior, as a cold front pushes through the area prior to the arrival of predicted precipitation.
As of mid-day Thursday, the Forest Service had not allocated firefighting resources to the fire for reasons including anticipated precipitation, presence of the fire in the Anaconda-Wilderness and steep and rugged terrain.
