The majority of the wildland fires caused by a lightning storm Sunday are now under control.

The Billings Interagency Dispatch Center reports the Mosher Dome Fire, which is burning east of Edgar has burned 44 acres and is under control.

Meanwhile, the Moorehead fire, southwest of Broadus, that burned nearly 71 acres, is under control and crews are monitoring the scene.

Fire officials say the Prairie Dog Fire near Birney has burned about 70 acres and is estimated to be contained.

Meanwhile, authorities have their eyes on the Balek Fire near Pompeys Pillar, which has burned about five acres. While officials say that fire is contained, it is not yet controlled.

(from July 14, 2009)

The Billings Interagency Dispatch Center says the Mosher Dome Fire, East of Edgar burned 44 acres and is under control. The Moorehead fire, southwest of Broadus, burned nearly 71 acres and is under control, and crews are monitoring the scene.

The Prairie Dog Fire, near Birney, has burned about 70 acres and is estimated to be contained at six p.m. The fire had four engines, one helicopter and one hand crew on the scene.

Meanwhile, authorities have their eyes on the Balek Fire near Pompeys Pillar, which has burned about five acres. Officials say the fire is contained, but not controlled. Fire officials say they may keep crews on the fire overnight, in the event high winds kick up.

Sunday's lightning strikes sparked wildland fires across the state.

In Carbon County, the Mosher Dome fire east of Edgar burned 60 acres. Southwest of Broadus, fire crews spent yesterday and Monday mopping up the 70-acre Moorehead fire.

On Monday, crews were called to two more fires caused by last night's lightning. The Prairie Dog Fire, near Birney, has burned an estimated 50 acres so far, and hand crews are working the rugged terrain. Crews have also just arrived at a fire near Pompeys Pillar.

Fire officials say this moist weather is helping mitigate fires. "The weather has a tendency to change from wet to dry and dry to wet, and if it goes dry and it starts getting really windy and we have dry lightning storms, than we're going to have a problem. Because now we've got a really wet season that has produced a lot of grass and fine fuels, if those all cure out, we could be off to the races," said Heather O'Hanlon, Wildfire Investigation Officer.

The Butte area also has two wildfires burning. The Leggett Hill Fire is burning 10 miles Southeast of Butte and crews are on the scene of the Pony Fire, about eight miles West of Harrison.