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<p>From Custer-Gallatin National Forest on Facebook:</p>
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<div class="qzhwtbm6 knvmm38d"><span class="oi732d6d
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<div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">Bridger
Foothills Fire Preliminarily Determined to be
Lightning Caused</div>
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<div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">Bozeman, MT
– The US Forest Service, with support from the
Gallatin County Sheriff’s office, has completed the
initial investigation to determine what started the
Bridger Foothills Fire. The fire was first reported
on September 4, 2020. Investigators have announced
that the likely cause of the fire appears to be the
result of a hold-over lightning strike.
Investigators will continue following up on any
additional leads received prior to releasing a final
cause determination.</div>
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<div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">This fire’s
cause was determined by investigating a variety of
different factors including interviewing first
account observers, conducting detailed field work,
and analyzing weather data. A “hold-over” means that
the actual ignition of the fire likely occurred
during a storm late August that produced extensive
lightning over Bozeman and the Bridger Mountains.
The fire came to life on September 4th after several
days of warmer temperatures. </div>
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<div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">“It’s very
common for fires to appear several days to weeks
after a lightning storm has passed through,” said
District Ranger Corey Lewellen. Earlier on the same
day, fire crews responded to another fire just north
of the Bridger Foothills Fire that was also
determined to be a hold-over produced from the same
storm.</div>
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<div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">The 6pm
briefing video is at:</div>
<div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.facebook.com/CusterGallatinNationalForest/posts/2872940522987503">https://www.facebook.com/CusterGallatinNationalForest/posts/2872940522987503</a></div>
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<div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">The
following release from COAD details assistance
options for tomorrow:</div>
<div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span
style="left: 120.04px; top: 365.813px; font-size:
20px; font-family: sans-serif; transform:
scaleX(0.906761);">To continue addressing the
needs of people directly impact</span><span
style="left: 592.117px; top: 365.813px; font-size:
20px; font-family: sans-serif; transform:
scaleX(0.922115);">ed by the Bridger Foothills
Fire, the </span><span style="left: 120.04px;
top: 388.813px; font-size: 20px; font-family:
sans-serif; transform: scaleX(0.929893);">Southwest
Montana COAD (Community Organizations Active in
Disaster), in coordination with </span><span
style="left: 120.04px; top: 411.813px; font-size:
20px; font-family: sans-serif; transform:
scaleX(0.91645);">Gallatin County Emergency
Management, the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office
and the Custer </span><span style="left:
120.04px; top: 434.863px; font-size: 20px;
font-family: sans-serif; transform:
scaleX(0.939889);">Gallatin National Forest, will
be offe</span><span style="left: 415.483px; top:
434.863px; font-size: 20px; font-family:
sans-serif; transform: scaleX(0.89625);">ring
numerous options for assistance to impacted
residents </span><span style="left: 120.04px;
top: 457.863px; font-size: 20px; font-family:
sans-serif; transform: scaleX(0.896885);">on
Saturday, Sept. 12:</span></div>
<div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span
style="left: 120.04px; top: 457.863px; font-size:
20px; font-family: sans-serif; transform:
scaleX(0.896885);"><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/photos/MTGNF/2020-09-04-1743-Bridger-Foothills-Fire/related_files/pict20200811-133953-0.pdf">https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/photos/MTGNF/2020-09-04-1743-Bridger-Foothills-Fire/related_files/pict20200811-133953-0.pdf</a><br>
</span></div>
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<div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">Tom<br>
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