Lightning starts nine new fires

Firefighters scrambled Monday to put down this year's first significant rash of

lightning fires in the Flathead area.

Firefighters scrambled Monday to put down this year's first significant rash of lightning fires in the Flathead area.

At least nine fires were spotted in the wake of a thunderstorm that moved northwest over Kalispell Sunday night and Monday morning.

"We're pretty sure we're going to find more in the next couple of days," said Seth Carbonari, deputy fire management officer on the Flathead National Forest.

Seven of the recent fires were on lands southwest of Kalispell that fall under the protection of the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. Most of those fires were stopped at a fraction of an acre.

The lone exception was a fire that grew to 3.2 acres by Monday afternoon near Hubbart Lookout. A helicopter was dispatched, along with fire engines, a bulldozer and firefighters.

Carbonari said there was concern about winds picking up in the afternoon, potentially causing problems with that fire.

"What we are noticing is that the lightning that came through had a high probability of starting a fire," Carbonari said. "We didn't have a whole lot of strikes but we had a high percentage of starts."

Grasses, brush and other vegetation have been drying out under wilting heat the last couple of weeks, priming Northwest Montana for an active fire scene in August. Aircraft are patrolling for fires "pretty much daily now," Carbonari said.

There was another fire farther southwest on the Flathead Indian Reservation and another on the Flathead National Forest on Jimmy Ridge near Hungry Horse Reservoir.

As of Wednesday at midnight, stage one fire restrictions take effect on all forested lands within Flathead, Lake, Lincoln and Sanders counties.

The restrictions limit smoking to buildings, enclosed vehicles, and developed campgrounds, and limit all campfires to metal or concrete fire rings in developed or improved recreation sites and campgrounds. Camp stoves are allowed at any site.

Smoking is allowed only in vehicles or buildings, developed recreation sites or while stopped in an area of at least three feet across that is cleared of all flammable materials.

Restrictions will remain in place until there is a significant change in weather that reduces fire danger in Northwest Montana.

The fire danger currently is rated as high.

Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by e-mail at jmann@dailyinterlake.com