'Red Flag' warning worries crews near Townsend

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By The Associated Press

Story Published: Aug 19, 2008 at 7:27 PM MDT

Story Updated: Aug 19, 2008 at 7:27 PM MDT

TOWNSEND - A 650-acre wildfire east of Townsend is still being fought mostly from the air, while a single 13-person crew battles the blaze on the ground, along with engines from the U.S. Forest Service, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and Broadwater County.

Liz Van Genderen is an information officer on the Bear Gulch fire, about 12 miles east of Townsend. She says three helicopters are working the fire Tuesday, with three more on order. An incident management team, with additional resources at its command, is expected to take over fire operations late Monday afternoon.

Van Genderen says a "red flag" weather warning was issued for Tuesday, which indicates "very high or extreme fire danger."

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