Fuels are drying and fire behavior is intensifying in a portion of the Crater Ridge Fire, which is burning in the Bighorn Mountains east of Lovell.

The fire grew from 383 acres on Saturday morning to just over 600 acres by Monday morning, according to information released by fire managers.

The Crater Ridge Fire is expected to continue increasing while hot, dry weather remains. Warm, dry weather is predicted to remain through today (Tuesday), with occasional gusty winds. Increased moisture moves into the area Wednesday, managers said of the forecast, with the best chances for wetting rain coming Thursday through Sunday. 

On Sunday, a pair of type 1 helicopters delivered more than 70,000 gallons of water over some of the fire’s hotter areas to slow its advance and keep it north of Cub Creek.

“Strategically established indirect containment lines have been created and are being improved in anticipation of increased fire activity,” the management team said, adding, “As fire activity increases, crews are prepared to conduct firing operations, if needed, to burn out available fuels, removing them from the fire’s path to check the fire’s growth.”

On Monday, some 234 personnel — including 10 pieces of heavy equipment, six engines, four helicopters and two water tenders — were working to fully suppress the wildfire, which was listed as 0% contained. The fire started July 17.

Meanwhile the Robertson Draw Fire that has burned 29,885 acres south of Red Lodge, Montana, and north of Clark was listed as 90% contained as of Saturday. However, firefighters are unable to fight the blaze on the northwest face of Mt. Maurice, meaning it will likely take a season-ending snow or rain to extinguish it.

As for the smoke visible across Wyoming, it’s coming from fires in northern California. View a smoke map at fire.airnow.gov/.