Spot fire adds to Seepay 2 blaze

The Daily Inter Lake

Firefighters finally got a handle on part of the Seepay 2 fire 15 miles east of Plains, but another part got away late Wednesday, and the fire perimeter grew to 7,000 acres.

The acreage increased largely because a spot fire emerged south of the main fire front, at the head of the Seepay Creek drainage. The spot fire quickly consumed 150 acres and eventually burned back into the main fire, said fire information officer Wayne Johnson.

But firefighters made progress on the east flank, which had threatened several homes in the Perma area.

"That threat has been reduced because we got a line around the east side of the fire," Johnson said.

Thursday, firefighters were mopping up hot spots on the east flank, and the south front continued to be "where the main action is," Johnson said.

The fire still has potential to burn into thick stands of lodgepole pine on that front, he said.

There are 337 people working on the fire, along with eight helicopters, 11 engines, two dozers and other heavy equipment.

Fire officials estimate that 410,000 gallons of water and 138,000 gallons of retardant have been dropped on the fire.