Fire near Zortman

The wildfire that is covering parts of the Fort Belknap Reservation, Phillips, and Blaine Counties, known as the Pine Grove Fire, has been burning now for eight days.

The fire was first reported on Monday, August 16, around 11:30 a.m. It is believed to be human-caused, but that is still under investigation.

On that Monday night, a voluntary evacuation was requested by the Phillips County Sheriff's Office for Zortman. Later on Tuesday, August 17, that was changed to a mandatory evacuation for Zortman due to high winds that were forecast for the area. Residents were asked to pack only the essent...