Photo by: John McColganiblm of the Alaska Fire Service Bitterroot Complex Two elk take refuge in the east Fork of the Bitterroot River as flames consume a hillside. Bitterroot River A river rising in southwest Montana and flowing about 193 km (120 mi) northward to the Clark Fork River near Missoula. About $520,000 was spent on suppression of the Bitterroot fires by the end of August, 2000.

Statewide,more than 840,000 acres, approx. 1,312 sq. miles( this is about 22 times the size of Washington D.C.) had burned in Montana by early September and the end was not in sight. At one time, more then 12,000 firefighters were at work in Montana, men and women from 26 states and Puerto Rico, plus New Zealand, Australia, and Canada.

Bitterroot Range A rugged chain of the Rocky Mountains along the Idaho-Montana border. It rises to 3,474.9 m (11,393 ft) at Scott Peak.

Updated 06-10-04

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