LAUREL — About 100 homes have been evacuated after the Falling Star fire burned between 500 and 1,000 acres near Park City in Stillwater County Sunday, according to Carol Arkell, Stillwater County Disaster and Emergency Services Coordinator.
The fire is burning near two sub divisions near Falling Star Trail and Benedict Gulch Road, Arkel told Q2 over the phone around 7:30 p.m.
Fire crews were still doing structure protection and were not allowing evacuated residents back to their homes earlier in the evening. Arkell didn't know when evacuated people would be allowed back to their homes.
The fire will most likely burn throughout the night and Arkell said firefighters expect the blaze to cross Valley Creek Road by nightfall.
Benedict Gulch Road and Valley Creek Road were closed to through traffic for most of the day.
It is not known if any structures have been damaged.
Responding fire agencies include: Bureau of Land Management, US Forrest Service, DNRC along with crews from Stillwater County, Carbon County, and Yellowstone County.
Two helicopters and two airplanes were dropping water and retardant on the fire throughout the day.
Arkell urged the public to stay away from the area to allow firefighters the necessary room to work.
