GREENOUGH – Garnet Ghost Town reopened for visitors after the Bureau of Land Management issued a new area closure in the Anderson Hill Fire vicinity. The new closure is much smaller and allows the public to access Garnet while also providing space for firefighters to safely continue suppression and mop-up operations on the 750-acre fire.
The BLM closed Garnet Ghost Town on July 16, the day after the fire was reported within a mile of the historic site. Under Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation wildland fire protection, the Anderson Hill Fire grew quickly despite being met with aggressive initial attack.
After several days of suppression using both ground and air resources, Erik Newell’s Type 3 Team reported 100 percent containment on Monday, July 26. The BLM determined it was safe to re-open the ghost town to visitors.
“We are reducing the closure area around Garnet to allow use of the two access points to Garnet—Bear Gulch and Cave Gulch roads at Bearmouth to the south, and the Garnet Range Road to the north,” said Missoula BLM Field Manager Erin Carey. “Visitors should still use caution when driving in the area and should anticipate heavy fire vehicle traffic for the near future.”
Despite the proximity of the fire to the ghost town, none of the historic structures were damaged.
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