Montana State University Red Bluff Fire
Another major fire occurred in September 2000 at the Montana State University Red Bluff Animal and Range Science Station near Norris, Montana. Dry pastureland and extreme wind do not combine for good conditions when coupled with fire. Picture two wires at the top of a power pole touching due to high wind conditions, and rubbing causing an arc. A spark develops, and then another spark, and another until the sparks fall to the dry grass below. Conditions were prime for what followed.
The grass began to burn, and fire spread across the ground to a building, and then another building. The ranch manager discovered the fire soon after it developed and after calling for assistance, he tried to set up a fire line to prevent it from spreading. Three local fire departments and several wild land fire teams responded. These resources did an excellent job in controlling the fire under the wind conditions. It could have easily grown to major proportions. A little rain and water dropped from a helicopter were most helpful in suppressing the fire.
The calving barns burned, pole and wood structures. The fire got out of the corral area and spread onto pasture land and burned several hundred acres. Roughly one-third of their winter forage burned. Red Bluff is a working ranch that produces calves each year to supply the needs of all other experiment stations for calves. Rebuilding is crucial by March 2001, as they need the buildings to keep the cows and calves protected for calving.