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Wildfire Grows West of Red Lodge

By Beacon Staff

RED LODGE – A fire 12 miles west of Red Lodge in the Custer National Forest has grown to more than 1,500 acres, prompted evacuation of more than 90 homes and burned five structures in the historic Camp Senia area.

Fire officials said Sunday the fire has been difficult to fight because of the rugged topography, the amount of fuel on the ground from a tree blowdown in November, the old age of the forest and the recent drought.

The Cascade fire was reported at 2:15 p.m. Saturday in the West Fork of Rock Creek.

People were evacuated from the Rock Creek and Cascade campgrounds, the Red Lodge Mountain Ski Resort, a Girl Scout camp and more than 90 area homes. A helicopter was used Saturday to spot hikers and backpackers in the area and evacuate them.