Responders handle Billings Heights wildfire and urge fire safety [Video]

BILLINGS — A large wildfire, dubbed the “Bo Fire,” broke out Saturday afternoon in Billings Heights north of Alkali Creek Road, prompting firefighters to respond quickly and urge the importance of fire safety before the Fourth of July.

As of Sunday, there are no active flames but the area is continuing to be monitored.

Beginning around 12:30 p.m., the fire affected a 250.68 acre area and according to MT Fire Info, is 21 percent contained. Both Alkali Creek Road from the intersection at Skyway Drive to Warfield Park and the Inner Belt Loop (Skyway Drive) were closed, but have since been reopened. No evacuations to the area were ordered.

“We received an alert through an app called I Am Responding that told us there’s a fire at this location. We looked at the wind and said, ‘There’s a good chance this could get bigger,'” said Annemarie Overcast, the disaster and emergency services coordinator for …