Cool temps keep fires peaceful

The Daily Inter Lake

Wind caused minor growth of two fires on the Flathead National Forest, but cooler temperatures and some rain has since slowed them.

The Sun Dog Fire north of Whitefish grew from 615 acres to about 750 acres Tuesday and Wednesday, mainly by creeping downhill on its southern flank toward a 70-foot fire break. That has allowed firefighters and engines to directly attack the fire from the road, said Pat McKelvey, fire information officer.

High winds were predicted for Tuesday afternoon, but they weren't as strong as predicted and they arrived late in the evening. Wednesday, temperatures were significantly cooler, to a point where there was a dusting of snow on nearby Moose Peak and a sprinkle of rain on the fire.

The Holland Peak fire, burning about five miles east of Condon on the Swan Mountain range, grew about 200 acres to a total of 530 acres with the higher winds.

"It got pretty rowdy," said fire information officer Bob Brady.

The fire mostly burned upslope toward rocky ridges, but it also slowly backed its way downhill, toward the Swan Valley. So far, firefighting has been limited to water drops to slow the downslope burning.

The terrain is considered too steep and dangerous to have firefighters directly engage the fire.

The fire was far less active Wednesday, largely because the area received 0.06 inches of rain overnight.

In eastern Montana, residents of about 65 homes in Stillwater and Sweet Grass counties were urged to evacuate because of a wildfire burning 15 miles to the south. The fire had grown to 40,000 acres, or 62 square miles by Wednesday, officials said.

Fire information officer Gwen Shaffer said strong southwest winds could cause the Derby Mountain fire to expand. "There's nothing we can do about the winds," she said. "Mother nature has her own plan."