Brush fire near Menan Butte is contained

UPDATE 7-4 The Menan Butte fire was 100 percent contained at 6 p.m. Monday and was expected to be fully under control on Wednesday. The Bureau of Land Management said the fire is not active and there was no immediate threat to structures. After GPS mapping, the fire was determined to have burned grass and sagebrush over 238 acres. Investigation determined it was likely started by fireworks, although the investigation is continuing. 4 engines and 1 dozer were expected to continue mop-up operations Tuesday

UPDATE MONDAY: 8:35 a.m.

The Menan Butte fire is estimated at 212 acres. It was about 20 percent contained late Sunday and full containment was expected Monday night. The fire was creeping through grass and brush but there was no immediate threat to any structures and no roads were closed. 13 fire engines from multiple agencies, 2 dozers, 3 single engine air tankers and 1 heavy air tanker dropped retardant on the fire until dark. Erratic winds rekindled hot spots in the interior of the fire Sunday afternoon.

UPDATE Sunday 7:45p:

A fire near the Menan Butte continues to burn Sunday night as winds pushed the fire bigger.

BLM fire managers were hoping to have the fire controlled by 7 p.m. but changed when winds picked up in the late afternoon.

They said no structures are threatened at this time. The fire did jump the north line.

Three single engine air tankers and a heavy air tanker are helping firefighters on the ground.

Highway 33 and Twin Butte road remain open at this time.

Original Story:

On Sunday, fire crews began investigating a fire that broke out Saturday night because of illegal fireworks. The fire at Menan Butte is now contained after it burned 30 acres.

At around 11 p.m. Saturday night, fire crews began fighting a fire that started at the Menan Butte, they said started because someone set off fireworks in a prohibited area.

Several units from the Central Fire District, the Jefferson County Sheriff, and one BLM engine responded and on Sunday, four engines were still on scene.

The fire was contained at 11 o’clock Sunday afternoon.

The fire started on BLM land where it is prohibited to possess or discharge fireworks.

If caught and found responsible, you can be liable for the fire suppression costs and cited if found igniting fireworks in those areas.

This is the fourth human-caused fire in the Menan Butte in the past two weeks.