Missoula County Lifts Butler Creek Fire Evacuation Orders

Update 7/23/24 1:47 pm

Update 7/22/24 7:00 pm

Montana DNRC and other fire crews are now reporting 15% containment on the Butler Creek Fire west of Missoula. The latest maps had the fire at just over 300 acres, as it continues to burn in a mixture of grassland and forested areas.

DNRC reports crews are making headway in building more dozer line and using engines to support other "direct fire lines." Aerial attack on the fire also made it easier for firefighters to safely access the fire on the ground.

Butler Creek Road remains open to residents for "necessary traffic only". But drivers are encouraged to reduce speed and watch out for fire equipment.

Missoula County Sheriff's Office has downgraded the Evacuation Order to an Evacuation Warning for Indreland and Buffalo Speedway zone.

For those residents in the W Butler Lavalle Creek Evacation zone, residents will be allowed into their homes between 12:00 pm and 1:00pm.

Full details about the downgraded warning here and full details about accessing homes here.

Original Story

Residents of the Butler Creek neighborhood west of Missoula are on the move this morning after the Missoula County Sheriff's Office issued an evacuation order, and a warning for residents living near a new fire that's started on Butler Creek

The fire was reported early this morning. Montana DNRC is now reporting the fire has already burned 200 acres.

MCSO immediately issued an Evacuation order for the Indreland and Buffalo Speedway zone and the West Butler Lavelle Creek Zone telling people to leave the area immediately.

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Indreland and Buffalo Speedway zone includes all of Buffalo Speedway and Indreland Lane east of Buffalo Speedway.  That include streets accessed off of Buffalo Speedway including Kit Lane, Karamu Lane, Patinella Court, and Brow Tine Drive. The West Butler Lavelle Creek Zone includes all of Lavelle Creek and residents on the west side of Butler Creek Road.

We talked with Kirsten Mortenson about the fire's status this morning just before 9 am.

Then, an evacuation warning was issued for the East Side of Butler Creek Road.

MCSO says that includes residents on the east side of Butler Creek Road from the intersection of Lavelle Creek Road to Eloise Way on Point Six Road, including Butler View Lane, portions of Butler Ford Road, and Dodd Ranch Road.

The Montana Red Cross is opening a shelter for evacuees at Christ the King Catholic C church, 1400 Gerald Avenue in Missoula. Those services are all free to those being evacuated. If you need help, you can call the Red Cross at 800-RED-CROSS.