East Side Fire burns 3,000 acres south of Red Lodge as 'go now' evacuations ordered

A fast-moving wildfire broke out in Carbon County Monday with evacuations in progress.

Since ignition, the East Side Fire has consumed 3,000 acres of the Custer Gallatin National Forest in the southwestern region of Carbon County.

Latest reports as of Tuesday morning listed the blaze as 0% contained.

"This is a rapidly moving fire. Firefighters are working on structure protection in the main canyon, below Mt. Maurice, south of Red Lodge and in Howell Gulch," reads a report from Evan Jacobs, regional captain.

"Fire is moving in a northern direction at a rapid pace."

Evacuations were underway throughout Monday night into Tuesday morning, including the east side of Highway 212 between Lake Fork Road and Howell Gulch Road, and warnings from there to Meeteetse Trail Road.

Bull Moose Lane on the 400 Ranch also was under evacuation orders as of Tuesday morning, according to updates via Carbon Alert.

One-hundred crew members are on the scene with numerous aircrafts assisting in efforts to snuff out the flames under unified command. Present agencies include the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Wildland Fire Service, Carbon County, Red Lock Fie and Rescue among other federal and state resources.

The cause is still under investigation.

Sweet Grass Coiunty

Monday sparked another blaze in southern Sweet Grass County with the 27-acre Davis Gulch Fire burning in the Yellowstone District of the Custer Gallatin National Forest.

Reports from Regional Captain Maureen Bonessa via WatchDuty Monday afternoon described the fire as "smoldering with light smoke (and) pockets of open flames."

Fire activity was expected to increase through Wednesday.

The Davis Gulch Fire is burning within the Derby burn scar along a ridge top about 20 miles south of Big Timber.

Smoke is expected in the area over the next few days.