Jericho Creek fire near MacDonald Pass holds at 2,068 acres

Helena, Mont. — The Jericho Creek Fire has been active for nearly two weeks and a new report shows it was holding at approximately 2,068 acres with 31% containment.

Smoke had circled Helena two days earlier and remains visible near Elliston. Closer to Jericho Mountain and toward Telegraph Road, the smell of smoke grew stronger and the smoke became easier to see.

NonStop Local reached out to the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest to learn more about conditions on the fire. Fire managers report the fire did not grow after gusty winds from passing thunderstorms.

Crews are focusing on securing containment lines while heavy fuels continue burning inside the perimeter, keeping smoke visible. Fire prevention officer Veronica Gooding said the terrain remains one of the biggest challenges on the fire.

"The terrain is steep up there and there’s also a lot of heavy dead and down timber," said Gooding.

Gooding explained crews were taking eight hours of rest after their shifts to avoid exhausting resources. She also said the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest stay in daily communication with the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation.

No DNRC resources or personnel were assigned to the fire at this time. However, the agency remains available to provide support if needed.

Gooding urges people to stay away from the area as firefighting work continues.

"The fire vehicle traffic is going to be heavy on Telegraph and Hahn Creek Roads and we just ask the public to avoid the area for firefighter safety and their safety as well," said Gooding.

Gooding said there is no clear timeline for when the fire could be out. She said crews are managing the response day by day.