Snow to put final damper on fires

By JIM MANN

Forecast calls for 6-12 inches above 5,000 feet

The Daily Inter Lake

Two days of rain put the hammer on forest fires in Northwest Montana, but the coup de grace for some could come today in the form of heavy snow at higher elevations.

The National Weather Service issued a heavy snow warning through midnight tonight, with 6 to 12 inches of snow predicted for areas above 5,000 feet and lesser accumulations between 4,000 and 5,000 feet.

That comes on the heels of two days of lower temperatures and persistent rain, with about 0.45 inches recorded in Kalispell since Wednesday.

"I know we got quite a bit and it looks like it took heat out of a whole bunch of fires across Montana," said Allen Chrisman, fire management officer on the Flathead National Forest.

The Flathead's active fires have been burning at high elevations, and they have been beaten down by the recent weather. The 1,840-acre Holland Peak Fire on the Swan Range east of Condon, for instance, is all but over, said Chrisman, who was in Condon on Thursday.

"When the clouds lifted, we weren't seeing any smoke, but we were seeing snow on the mountains," he said.

The fire isn't officially considered out. Smoke could pop up from isolated areas after any periods of warming and drying, Chrisman said.

But firefighting resources have been leaving the Condon area rapidly. On Wednesday, there were 170 people on the fire, along with multiple fire engines, a helicopter, heavy equipment and a Type II management team.

By today, Chrisman said, there will be one fire engine and a 15-man crew left to patrol the remnants of the fire.

"They've scaled way back," Chrisman said.

A prescribed burn carried out Tuesday and Wednesday east of Hungry Horse Reservoir also has been quieted considerably by the weather. The burn is considered a big success, having covered an estimated 1,800 acres over two days before it was hit with rain, Chrisman said.

Several fires burning on the west side of the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex, nearly all of them at high elevation, are bound to be quiet after the recent weather.

"I would be surprised if we see any significant movement out of the wilderness fires even with any warming and drying," Chrisman said.

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