Crews douse wildfire

The Daily Inter Lake

A fire just west of the fish hatchery in Somers that began shortly after noon on Sunday consumed one acre.

Personnel and engines from Somers volunteer fire department, Department of Natural Resources & Conservation, and the U.S. Forest Service responded to the fire, which was believed to have been a debris pile.

Dennis Jones, dispatcher for the Flathead National Forest, said it took five to six hours before the fire was finally extinguished. "There was a lot of mop-up work involved," he said.

In northwestern Montana, fire restrictions applicable to forested areas outside city limits, regardless of the land's ownership, are scheduled to take effect at midnight Wednesday. Those rules limit smoking to buildings, developed campgrounds and the enclosed areas of vehicles. Restrictions on the location of campfires also will be in effect.

The restrictions do not apply to Glacier National park or to the Bob Marshall Wilderness.

"Over the last several weeks there has been a rash of person-caused wildland fires - preventable fires at that - so acting now before we have a serious problem is a good move," said Jeremy Pris, state fire prevention specialist.

Firefighters Sunday mopped-up work at a fire near Plains, a day after containing the blaze. Besides the mop-up at the 2,333-acre Baker fire, crews patrolled for hot spots and undertook some work to rehabilitate the land, fire information officer Jennifer Thompson said. The number of people still assigned to the fire fell to about 80, Thompson said.