Bridger Foothills fire evacuees allowed quick return home Monday

BOZEMAN, Mt. (KIFI/KIDK)-UPDATE: Residents evacuated due to the Bridger Canyon fire near Bozeman will be temporarily allowed to return to their residences Monday September 7 between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m.

The Gallatin County Sheriff's office hopes to take advantage of cold weather forecast Monday, because hot and dangerous fire weather is expect to return later in the week.

Residents will be asked to check in with law enforcement by providing names, addresses, phone numbers, and ID and verification of a residence, like a piece of mail or vehicle registration.

People will be allowed to grab belonings at their own residence, but must leave by Noon. They will be required to check out with law enforcement when they leave.

Residents should use the access closest to their home to minimize traffic as much as possible. Visibility is poor and there are numerous road obstacles, according to the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office.

Several subdivisions were evacuated Saturday ahead of the Bridger Foothills fire.

The fire grew to 11,000 acres about two and a half miles from the Bridger Foothills trail northeast of Bozeman, Montana, according to the Custer Gallatin National Forest. The fire was active Saturday night and a red flag warning with a cold front was forecast Sunday.

Multiple teams from the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office evacuated residents of the Bridger Canyon Road, Jackson Creek, and Kelly Canyon.

Residents were warned in the Skunk Creek area Saturday and deputies planned to issue warnings in the Brackett Creek area Sunday.

People who had not been evacuated were urged to voluntarily leave the area until it is safe to return.

The Bridger Canyon Road from Story Mill Road to Sedan was closed to non-residents.