09/05/2026
Nature Grove Fire update - evacuation warning recinded
U.S. Forest Service, 9/5 - The evacuation warning for the Nature Grove Fire was rescinded yesterday by the Ravalli County Sheriff’s Office. Travelers and recreators are still advised to exercise caution when they are near the Nature Grove Fire perimeter as firefighters and heavy equipment will be traveling on nearby roads and to respect existing road closures on the 711, 720, and 75 road for firefighter safety and operational effectiveness.
Current Status:
Rain fell overnight on the Nature Grove fire reducing fire behavior, but the fire remains on the landscape and will become more active as fuels dry out when the current system leaves the Bitterroot Valley. Yesterday, heavy equipment operators took advantage of breaks in the rain to finish building primary fire lines. Today, hand crews will continue improving these lines for future burning operations. They will also build and chip and reduce ladder fuels to secure these lines The top priority of all operations is to protect values at risk, including private property, structures and livestock.
Weather and Fire Behavior:
Waves of showers and cloud cover are anticipated today. Rain will be heaviest on Sunday. Cool temperatures will continue in the next few days with good relative humidity recoveries overnight. This weather pattern will continue through Monday and Tuesday.
Closures:
Forest Service Road 75 is closed from Highway 38 to the junction of Forest Service Road 720. FS Roads 720, and 711 remain closed. There is a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) in effect over the Nature Grove Fire. Flying any aircraft, including drones (UAS), is prohibited because it will impact the effectiveness and safety of firefighting air operations.
Incident Information:
https://www.facebook.com/DiscoverBitterrootNF https://www.fs.usda.gov/r01/bitterroot/alerts https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/mtbrf-nature-grove-fire https://www.mtfireinfo.org/
