Contact:  Patrick Lonergan, (406) 582-2395
Release 180927-01

Logan Landfill Waives Fees for Horseshoe Fire Victims

On Wednesday, September 26th the Board of Directors for the Gallatin Solid Waste Management District voted to waive tipping fees up to $2000 until January 1, 2019 for each property owner who lost buildings during the Horseshoe Fire.  Property owners who lost buildings will need to provide the Logan Landfill with the property address and owner name for every load of their debris.  Property information will be compared against the damage assessment conducted by the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office to verify where it is coming from.  Residents planning on taking advantage of this offer are encouraged to contract the Logan Landfill at (406) 587-7890 prior to bringing their first load to verify their information matches.

Metal items such as roofs, siding and vehicles should be taken to a metal recycler while natural vegetation is encouraged to be chipped on site.  Debris other than this can be brought to the Logan Landfill for disposal.

More on the Gallatin Solid Waste Management District at gallatinsolidwaste.org.

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(Gallatin County, Mont.)

Wednesday at about 10:34 PM, the Gallatin County 911 received a call from an adult male who said he and his girlfriend had been hiking the Beehive Basin trail to the lake. When they came back they decided to take a shorter route but got turned around and didn’t know where to go. After getting their story, they also gave GPS coordinates from their phone.

A Sheriff’s Deputy and the Big Sky section of Sheriff’s Search and Rescue were activated. Rescuers responded to the GPS coordinates given by the lost party and were able to locate them a short time later. The rescuers then led the two lost individuals back to where we were staged and waiting.

Sheriff Gootkin would like to remind everyone going out to recreate in the backcountry that it is good to have maps of the area in case you are turned around and get lost.

Media Alert

90-Day Appeal Period Starting for Proposed Floodplain Maps – City of Bozeman and Gallatin County

Background

The City of Bozeman and Gallatin County have been working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) to update floodplain maps for the West Gallatin River and Bozeman Creek and its tributaries. Updated flood insurance rate maps will provide more accurate flood risk information that can help local officials and residents make informed decisions about reducing flood risks and purchasing flood insurance.

Before new flood insurance rate maps become effective, there is a 90-day Appeal Period during which local residents and business owners can provide additional data for consideration before the maps are finalized. The appeal period runs September 20 – December 18, 2018.

The existing floodplain maps for the West Gallatin River, Bozeman Creek, Matthew Bird Creek, Nash Spring Creek, Flat Creek and Mill Ditch Diversion were produced from studies conducted more than 30 years ago. Revising the maps is a key step in providing the best available data to help keep families, homes, roads and other infrastructure safe from future flood events.

The proposed maps and information about the Appeal and Comment Period are available online at www.floodplain.mt.gov/gallatin or www.bozeman.net/floodplain, or at the Gallatin County Planning Office or the Bozeman City Engineering Department.

Download Full Information Packet

Media Contacts:

Brian Heaston
Bozeman City Engineering
bheaston@bozeman.net
(406)582-2280

Sean O’Callaghan
Gallatin County Planning
Planning@gallatin.mt.gov
(406)582-3130

Tiffany Lyden
MT DNRC
tlyden@mt.gov
(406)444-0599

SIZE:   1,223 acres

CONTAINMENT:   100%
CAUSE:   Under Investigation
FIRE LOCATION:   20 miles N of Logan, Gallatin County
PROTECTION:   Gallatin County
OWNERSHIP:   Private

FIRE SITUATION:  Due to the firefighters’ hard work, the Horseshoe Fire was declared 100 % contained at 5 PM yesterday. A small group of resources continue to address an area of residual heat in the fire’s interior. All resources are expected to be demobilized by this afternoon.

This will be the final update unless significant activity occurs. Any further questions regarding the Horseshoe Fire should be directed towards Gallatin County Emergency Management.

On behalf of the County Assist Team: Thank you to all the firefighters, cooperators, and community members for your support during this incident.

EVACUATIONS:  Currently there are no evacuations in place.

ACCESS: Area roads are for resident and fire personnel access only.

#HorseshoeFire

Due to the firefighters’ hard work, the Horseshoe fire was declared 100 % contained at 5 PM today. A small group of resources continue to address an area of residual heat in the fire’s interior. Resources will continue to demobilize today and tomorrow.

In other news, an Animal Control Officer assisted residents affected by the fire in the search for their missing dogs today. Unfortunately, the officer was unable to locate the two pets.

SIZE:   1,223 acres

CONTAINMENT:   65%
CAUSE:   Under Investigation
FIRE LOCATION:   20 miles N of Logan, Gallatin County
PROTECTION:   Gallatin County
OWNERSHIP:   Private

RESOURCES:
3 Hand Crews (20 people/crew)
16 Engines
1 Helicopter
2 Heavy Equipment (1 skidgen, 1 water tender)
160 Total Personnel

FIRE SITUATION:  A limited number of resources will be demobilized today while the remaining resources will put in a full day of work on the fireline. The remaining crews headed out to the fire this morning to build and improve fireline; search for heat along the fires perimeter; use air resources to haul water as needed; mop-up; and patrol around structures. Fire activity yesterday was minimal with creeping and smoldering.

As firefighters and law enforcement assessed the Horseshoe fire earlier this week the situation emerged as a mixed blessing.  The Department of Natural Resources and Conservation’s (DNRC) County Assist Team and the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office have identified approximately twelve structures that burned during the initial night of the fire. Structure loss includes: three primary residences; two secondary residences; and seven outbuildings.

EVACUATIONS:  Currently there are no evacuations in place.

ACCESS: Area roads are for resident and fire personnel access only.

Firefighting resources continued to seek and destroy hot spots today within the burned area. Containment has increased to 65% due to a larger portion of the fires perimeter being secured and strengthened. Fire size remains at 1,225 acres and fire cost is approximately $870,000. A limited number of resources will be demobilized tomorrow while the remaining resources will put in a full day of work on the fireline.

Crews headed out to the fire this morning to build and improve fireline; search for heat along the fires perimeter; use air resources to haul water as needed; mop-up; and patrol around structures. Fire activity yesterday was minimal with creeping and smoldering. An infrared flight flew the fire last night discovering areas of heat that the crews will go and investigate and extinguish as needed.

As firefighters and law enforcement assessed the Horseshoe fire on Wednesday the situation emerged as a mixed blessing.  The Department of Natural Resources and Conservation’s (DNRC) County Assist Team and the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office have identified approximately twelve structures that burned during the initial night of the fire. Structure loss includes: three primary residences; two secondary residences; and seven outbuildings.

In the chaotic first hours the fire burned around and among approximately 40 structures. The efforts of homeowners, local volunteer firefighters, and the DNRC paid off, as many of the yards of homes and cabins are islands of green in a sea of black. Local fire engines arrived, were soon joined by a DNRC helicopter, and firefighters began to assess priorities for the fire. Most importantly, the firefighters fulfilled their most critical mission; no residents, firefighters, or members of the public were hurt. The fire was well established when firefighters arrived on the scene late on Monday afternoon. Through quick communication and reliance on the Incident Command System the diverse firefighting resources converged on the scene and made a plan – stay safe, keep the public safe, and try to keep the fire away from homes and structures while watching each other’s’ backs.

Monday night fire behavior was extreme, with flame lengths reaching 50 feet as the juniper torched off the slopes of the Horseshoe Hills. Firefighters worked throughout the night, directing traffic, creating defensible space around homes and buildings, and generally bringing order to a chaotic scene. As the sun rose on the Horseshoe Fire on Tuesday morning the news was mixed. Some families and landowners would lose a great deal while others were spared. But the most extraordinary story may be the success of training, organization, and an unrelenting focus on the safety of firefighters and public. Combined with a great deal of luck and favorable weather the Horseshoe Fire will be contained and those people who lost property and homes in the fire can work to rebuild their lives

CAUSE:   Under Investigation
FIRE LOCATION:   20 miles N of Logan, Gallatin County
PROTECTION:   Gallatin County
OWNERSHIP:   Private

RESOURCES:
3 Hand Crews (20 people/crew)
15 Engines
2 Helicopters
4 Heavy Equipment (2 skidgens, 2 water tender)
168 Total Personnel

SIZE:   1,223 acres

CONTAINMENT:   33%

EVACUATIONS:  Currently there are no evacuations or closures in place.

Today crews did a thorough grid of areas adjacent to the fires perimeter in search of hot spots. Due to outstanding efforts, containment has increased to 33%.

The structures destroyed in the Horseshoe Fire consisted of three primary residences; two secondary structures; and seven outbuildings. Approximately 50 structures were threatened by the fire and 25 of those structures were within the fires perimeter.

More accurate mapping has resulted the fire being 1,223 acres.

134 people are assigned to the Horseshoe Fire

Light precipitation occurred over the fire yesterday afternoon and into the evening. This weather was helpful in minimizing interior fire activity and allowing firefighters to work on areas holding heat. Firefighting resources will build and improve fire line; work on hot spots; mop-up; and patrol around structures.

As firefighters and law enforcement assessed the Horseshoe fire on Wednesday the situation emerged as a mixed blessing.  The Department of Natural Resources and Conservation’s (DNRC) County Assist Team and the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office have identified approximately ten structures that burned during the initial night of the fire. At this time the types of buildings have not been determined, but the loss of property will affect the community members regardless. However, the story of the fire is also a story of success.

In the chaotic first hours the fire burned around and among approximately 40 structures. The efforts of homeowners, local volunteer firefighters, and the DNRC paid off, as many of the yards of homes and cabins are islands of green in a sea of black. Local fire engines arrived, were soon joined by a DNRC helicopter, and firefighters began to assess priorities for the fire. Most importantly, the firefighters fulfilled their most critical mission; no residents, firefighters, or members of the public were hurt. The fire was well established when firefighters arrived on the scene late on Monday afternoon. Through quick communication and reliance on the Incident Command System the diverse firefighting resources converged on the scene and made a plan – stay safe, keep the public safe, and try to keep the fire away from homes and structures while watching each other’s’ backs.

Monday night fire behavior was extreme, with flame lengths reaching 50 feet as the juniper torched off the slopes of the Horseshoe Hills. Firefighters worked throughout the night, directing traffic, creating defensible space around homes and buildings, and generally bringing order to a chaotic scene. As the sun rose on the Horseshoe Fire on Tuesday morning the news was mixed. Some families and landowners would lose a great deal while others were spared. But the most extraordinary story may be the success of training, organization, and an unrelenting focus on the safety of firefighters and public. Combined with a great deal of luck and favorable weather the Horseshoe Fire will be contained and those people who lost property and homes in the fire can work to rebuild their lives

SIZE:   1525 acres
CONTAINMENT:   18%
CAUSE:   Under Investigation
FIRE LOCATION:   20 miles N of Logan, Gallatin County
PROTECTION:   Gallatin County
OWNERSHIP:   Private

RESOURCES:
3 Hand Crews (20 people/crew)
14 Engines
3 Helicopters
4 Smoke jumpers
7 Heavy Equipment (3 skidgens, 1 dozers, 3 water tender)

EVACUATIONS:  Currently there are no evacuations or closures in place.

FIRE INFORMATION PHONE: 402-804-8755

WEBSITE: www.gallatinready.com