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Grass fire consumes 6,000 acres |
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Wednesday, 08 August 2007 |
A grass and crop fire that ate up some 6,000 acres on Friday had crews from Brady, Conrad, the Knees, Fort Benton, Dutton, and Choteau, Power as well as farmers with water trucks and tractors fighting the blaze.
Two Helicopters from the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation also dropped water on the fire.
A U.S. Air Force pickup truck from Malmstrom AFB started the fire after it caught fire late Friday afternoon.
Pondera County Sheriff Tom Kuka reported on Monday that the truck, conducting a routine security patrol, had 60 rounds of .223 ammo that was going off and the Air Force didn’t want anyone near the truck.
What exactly ignited the truck fire is unknown.
The fire was estimated to have burned 6,000 acres in both Pondera and Teton counties.
Some crops were destroyed, but no structures or homes were burned.
Crews fought the fire for about six hours before it was finally put out.
If property owners sustained damages related to the fire, they are asked to contact the Air Force Public Affairs office at (406) 731-4050 for help in filing a claim.
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