Wildfire Near Bear Trap Area Closes River Access

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — A fire burning near the Madison River east of Norris has caused officials to close down a stretch of the river to floating.

Rick Waldrup of the Bureau of Land Management says the wildfire started Monday morning along Bear Trap Road and is believed to be human-caused.

Waldrup says he does not have a good estimate on the size of the fire.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks says it has closed two fishing access sites to the Madison River, Black Ford and Damselfly. Waldrup says all BLM land along that corridor in Bear Trap Canyon also has been closed.

Jon Grassy of the state Department of Natural Resources and Development says his agency has dispatched two helicopters to drop water on the fire.