Video Shows Damage From Bridger Foothills Fire [WATCH]

A week and a half after the Bridger Foothills Fire started, Bridger Canyon Road is now open to the public. The fire started on the west side of Bridger Mountains just north of the "M" trail on Friday afternoon, Sept 4, 2020.

Some roads and trails remain closed west of Hwy 86 and south of the Brackett Creek intersection ("the Y") extending west through Ross Peak to the western Forest boundary.

While Bridger Canyon Road is now open to the public, some areas in the Bridger Mountains remain closed. Below is a map of current area closures.

Some exemptions to the closures include:

• Persons with a special use authorization or other Forest Service authorization specifically exempting them from the effect of this order
• Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting force in the performance of an official duty
• Persons with a permit specifically authorizing the otherwise prohibited act or omission
• Owners or lessees of land in the area
• Residents in the area
• Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting force in the performance of an official duty
• Persons engaged in a business, trade, or occupation in the area.

The Bridger Foothills Fire has burned 8,224 acres as of Wednesday, September 16. It is currently 77% contained.

Bozeman resident Wendy Dickson captured the video below on Sept 9, 2020 while driving Bridger Canyon Road from Kelly Canyon to Elk Meadow. The video shows the Bridger Foothills Fire burn area.

At the time the video was taken, the fire was effectively out except for small areas near the north edge of the burn zone where firefighters with helicopter water support continue to extinguish hot spots.