Both the Alder Creek Fire west of Wise River and the Goose Fire in Madison County experienced significant growth in recent days, bolstered by dry fuels and winds.
The Alder Creek Fire crossed Meadow Ridge into upper Harriet Lou Creek and grew to about 1,380 acres. The fire’s increasing complexity led to a transition to a Type 1 Incident Management Team.
The Southern Area Blue Team, based in the South but experienced in firefighting in the West, assumed command of the Alder Creek and Trail Creek fires Tuesday morning. The Forest Service said the Blue Team managed the Pettengill fire outside of Wise River in 2007.
The Trail Creek Fire, west of Wisdom, has grown to more than 5,000 acres.