PLAINS — An 11 acre fire burning in the Sears Gulch north of Plains is under investigation.
The Sanders County Wildland Fire Information Facebook page reports a passerby reported the fire after 10 p.m. on Wednesday.
Firefighters were able to make good progress on the initial attack Wednesday night because of the quick notice. A light rain fell on the fire area last night and also aided control efforts.
The fire, of undetermined origin, is in an active timber sale on Montana DNRC protected land.
A DNRC representative said that about 50 personnel total are currently on the scene, including a 10-person module, an engine and a water tender from the Plains/Thompson Falls Ranger District, and 5 DNRC engines.
Dozers in the area for the timber sale plus another picked up for the control effort successfully lined the blaze, completing it Thursday morning.
Sears Gulch is about 18 miles north of Plains.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
