Lost Lake Fire in Shoshone National Forest grows to 30 acres
— August 19, 2013(Press Release)
The Lost Lake Fire in the Beartooth Mountains of the Shoshone National Forest discovered Friday afternoon was ignited by a lightning strike. The fire is 3.5 miles north of the Beartooth Highway. The fire is now estimated to be 30 acres in size.
The Lost Lake Fire was reported on the afternoon of August 16 burning in heavy timber on the Clarks Fork Ranger District approximately one mile from the Montana border. The fire is 2 to 3 acres in size and is burning on a rugged southwest facing slope in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. “The cause is unknown but it may be a holdover from a lightning strike a week or more ago”, according to Tim Klukas, Fire Management Officer for the north zone of the Shoshone National Forest. The Beartooth Mountains where the fire is located received moisture recently but there has been a warming drying trend the last few days.
The Lost Lake Trail is currently closed and an additional trail closure, Trail #612 between Granite Lake and Copeland Lake has been implemented. Warm and dry conditions are predicted for today creating conditions for continued fire growth. Helicopter water drops are being utilized and the fire progress is being monitored. Strategies are being developed to confine and contain the fire with consideration of the rugged terrain, remote location and our priorities of public and firefighter safety.