The following is a news release from the Gallatin National Forest.

Cause: Lightning

Location: 20 miles south/southwest of Bozeman, MT in Storm Castle Creek drainage on the Gallatin National Forest, Bozeman Ranger District. The fire is burning about three miles east of Rat Lake near the Blanchard Ranch inholding.

Current Size: Approximately 500 acres

Containment: 0%

Resources Assigned: 1 Type I Crew, 3 engines, 4 smokejumpers, 1 local helicopter on scene. Approximately 60 people are ordered and will be arriving throughout the day tomorrow with a Type II team ordered but unfilled currently due to fire activity in the northwest.

Closures: Spire Rock Campground and Garnet Mountain trail are currently open. All trails and roads above the Spire Rock Campground are closed. Recreation Residences along Hwy 191 are currently open and have not been evacuated. An area closure is expected tomorrow for all trail and roads leading into the fire area.

Structures Threatened: Blanchard Ranch Inholding, unknown number of structures at this time.

Current Status: The Millie Fire started at approximately 1:05 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon and is burning in heavy dead and down fuels, mixed conifer and sub-alpine fir. Firefighters continue to work on securing an anchor point along the fire’s perimeter. The Millie Fire burned actively along all perimeters into the Tuesday evening and is expected to grow tomorrow.

Planned Actions: Additional resources are ordered and will be assigned to the fire as they arrive. Fire personnel will be evaluating needs, securing anchor points along the fire’s perimeter.

Weather: A dry cold weather front is expected to arrive mid-day over the fire vicinity with gusty and erratic winds eventually shifting south to southwest.