Bureau

of Indian Affairs Branch of Wildland Fire Management

U.S. Department of Interior #75 Makawasha Ave.
Crow Agency, MT 59022
406-638-2247
www.bia.gov/nifc/ https://www.facebook.com/BIACrowAgency


Crow Agency Fire Update

Release date: Immediate

Contact: Joe Morris, Fire Management Officer
Phone number: 406-638-2247
Date: Wednesday, August 16, 2023 – noon

Crow Fair starts hot as local fires burn 600+ acres

Temperatures 100 degrees or over with a few gusts up to 30 mph greet campers Thursday and
Friday at Crow Fair. Through the weekend, highs hover near 90 with up to a 30% chance of a brief
heavy shower – or else no rain. Many Crow Fairs stay hot and dry throughout. Please remain fire-
safe through the Fair by keeping and drinking plenty of water around camp. Please keep vehicles
off the dry grass, grease trailer hubs, and keep chains from dragging. Keep family close and safe.

A grass fire can move fast as the wind: a swather started the 614 acre Coulee fire about 4 p.m.
Tuesday in stubble and grass near Camp Four southwest of St. Xavier. Four Crow and Pryor
engines and the BIA helicopter based in Crow responded, joined by two engines and two water
tenders from Big Horn County Rural Fire and farmers’ water trucks and grader. That fire flashed
across almost a square mile of land, but it is contained and controlled Wednesday with one
engine patrolling.

Misuse of fireworks started two small fires about midnight Monday night along the high ground
of Highway 1 (the St. X cutoff) three and six miles west of Crow. Fire investigator Lee Old Bear
found leftover fireworks exactly where each fire started.

Monday evening after 7 p.m., a vehicle caused a small fire off Sand Creek Road. At noon Monday,
an overheated truck seized its engine while hauling a fifth wheel on I-90 by Reno Creek. Carbon
bits of exhaust flying into the grass started a small fire. Sunday night some thoughtless person left
a bagful of burning trash at the Crow dump transfer site, which smoldered into the grass. One
engine handled each of these five fires.

Tuesday, fire danger was “Very High” at Wolf Mountain Lookout, “High” in the Reservation Pryor
Mountains, and moderate in the grasslands. By Friday, all five Reservation remote weather
stations should be “High“ or “Very High.”

Six engines from Crow and Pryor with 21 personnel will staff Crow Fair through the weekend. For
the first time in many years, fire danger is not severe enough for BIA Crow Agency to preposition

extra resources at Crow Fair. However, nearby agencies cooperate to speedily share firefighting
duties, including air tankers and helicopters in Billings and the BIA helicopter stationed in Crow.

# -- BIA -- #