Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is closing down a section of the Bitterroot citing the need for firefighter access and potential danger to floaters and anglers.

"We had to close a stretch of the river from Wally Crawford to Anglers Roost Fishing Access Site," said FWP Pubilc Information Officer Vivica Crowser. "That's a southern reach of the Bitterrroot and its a spot that's in relatively close proximity to the Roaring Lion Fire."

Apparently, weather forecasts indicate that winds could blow the fire toward the river.

"We needed to close this 10 mile stretch of river so that the crews that are fighting the Roaring Lion Fire could use this section of the river for dipping and using that for suppression efforts," Crowser said. "Additionally, depending on what happens with the weather, today and tomorrow, with some of the winds that are forecaster, there's concern that potentially someone on the river could be in immediate danger."

Crowser says they hope to only have the river closed for only about 24 to 48 hours, but the closure, at this point, is listed as "until further notice."

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