Wind-Caused Fire Cuts Power to Rural Residents
Author: mt43news staff reporter
Article Published: 09/04/2026 Volume: 5 Edition: 09MT43 News Staff Reporter
Thursday, August 27, a downed electrical pole threw hundreds of Rural Residents northeast of Townsend into the dark for several hours.
According to Broadwater County Rural Fire Chief Ed Shindoll, his office received a call at 5:45 p.m. following a fierce windstorm in the area. Just south of the former Chicken Farm buildings on Cottonwood Road and Sandhill Lane, the 3.2- acre fire broke out after electrical wires caught fire. The fire was able to travel into the shelterbelt on the private property before the fire crew could extinguish it.
Several hundred yards of the old shelterbelt were burned. 4-H leader Don Marks and Old Baldy 4-H Club planted the shelterbelt in the early 1970’s under the supervision of the Soil Conservation Service, according to Don’s son Jeff, who still lives in the area.
Around 40 households were without power until 9:30 p.m. when it was restored, according to lineman Clint Beggers. The same windstorm collapsed a tree, knocking down a pole up Ray Creek Road near the Connie Shindoll ranch. Electric lineman crews worked to restore power in the canyon until 5:00 a.m. Friday.
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PhotoCredit: MT43 News Photo
Image 1 Caption: Remains of fire on Sandhill Lane that happened August 27.
MT43 News Photo
