Chippy Creek keeps roaring

Fire grows from 7,000 to 36,000 acres in a day

The Chippy Creek Fire zoomed northeast to almost reach the edge of Flathead County Saturday evening with firefighters trying to figure out where to make a stand against its front.

Meanwhile, someone took potshots at a Chippy Creek supervisor's unoccupied vehicle.

To the south, a new fire erupted west of Seeley Lake, spreading fast.

And to the northeast, the Skyland Fire has zipped over into the Blackfeet Reservation.

Heavy winds led to the rapid paces of all three fires - leaving firefighters hunting for favorable spots to fight the advancing flames.

Here is a rundown of major fires:

Chippy Creek Fire

This fire - which started 24 miles north of Thompson Falls and is now 33 miles from Kalispell - continues to move east and northeast.

Winds increased the fire five-fold from 7,000 acres Friday to 36,140 acres Saturday evening. Its huge smoke plume could be seen and from Kalispell.

The fire's front was seven miles south of Flathead County's Hubbart Reservoir on Saturday evening, said Bob Dyson information officer for the Chippy Creek management team. Hubbart Reservoir's south end is about 26 miles southwest of Kalispell.

All federal, state and Plum Creek roads between U.S. 2 and the Little Thompson River are closed.

The 12-mile-long fire it is six miles wide in spots - is moving too fast for firefighters to safely get in front of it, Dyson said.

Consequently, firefighters are trying to anticipate where the flames will head and try to find strategic spots where they can safely and effectively combat it, he said.

In a related matter, someone shot a fire supervisor's vehicle three times when it was sitting empty at the west end of the fire. No suspects have been identified, and the incident is under investigation, Dyson said.

Jocko Lakes Fire

A new fire sprouted up Friday afternoon eight miles east of Seeley Lake, growing from 10 acres to 300 acres in one 30-minute period.

It was estimated Saturday evening to be more than 5,000 acres - the speed caused by heavy winds.

"It's growing so fast that every time we venture a guess, it gets bigger," said Jamie Kirby, information officer for the Jocko Lakes management team.

Fire crews were pulled away from the eastbound fire because it was spreading too fast. "It just assumed a life of its own," Kirby said.

The fire has closed Jocko Road between Arlee and Seeley Lake. And late Saturday afternoon, the Missoula County Sheriff's Office ordered the evacuation of 100 to 200 homes in the Placid Lake area and the Seeley Lake area west of Boy Scout Road to Fawn Peak. Many of those are vacation homes.

A Type II management team assumed command from The Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribe Saturday evening.

"This fire is in the hands of God right now," Gov. Brian Schweitzer told the Associated Press after flying over the blaze in a helicopter.

Skyland Fire

Strong winds whipped this fire five miles toward the northeast Saturday, adding roughly 10,000 acres to increase it to 30,457 acres.

That sent the fire into the Blackfeet Reservation, just across the Heart Butte Cutoff Road along Deep Creek. The fire is within a few miles of East Glacier. The fire is about 19 miles long and possibly more than two miles wide at its widest point, fire officials said.

The winds are hurling burning branches ahead of the main fire.

Firefighting leaders have advised roughly 30 homes along Heart Butte Cutoff Road to prepare to evacuate.

So far, two ranch outbuildings have been burned down by the fire, but firefighting efforts saved other buildings.

Firefighters are bracing for the fire to expand north and south.

Fool Creek Fire

This Bob Marshall Wilderness fire 30 miles northwest of Choteau is expected to eventually reach the West Fork of the Teton River and Strawberry Creek to the east.

The flames are moving through the treetops with burning branches flying ahead of the main fire.

Fire officials hope that lower temperatures and a higher humidity today will slow down the fire, last estimated to be 27,231 acres. Rock reefs on the Rocky Mountain Front also are expected to slow the fire's eastward progress.

That eastward progress is expected to take the flames to roads where firefighters can meet the fire to combat it. Right now, most firefighters on the ground are clearing vegetation, scouting probable fire paths and setting sprinklers around buildings in preparation for the fire's advance. Also, firefighters are attacking the flames' perimeter in strategic spots.

"Firefighting is about patience and picking your battles," Dave Larsen, the Fool Creek incident commander, said in a press release.

Flames are within seven miles of private land east of the Bob Marshall - meaning firefighters will discuss tactics and other matters with landowners soon, officials said. However, predicted weather conditions led officials to believe that the fire won't significantly grow over the next few days.

Ahorn Fire

Firefighting leaders have recommended that the village of Mortimer and people living on Sun River Road be evacuated and that Beaver Willow Road be closed in response to the eastward-headed 41,900-acre fire 30 miles west of Augusta.

Firefighters are hunkering down for many more days of work.

Explosives were used Saturday along the crest of Sawtooth Ridge - six miles to the east of the fire - to eliminate flammable material between the rock ledges on the ridge's crest to create one long firebreak.

Garceau Fire

A Type II management team transferred command of this firefighting effort back to local units Saturday morning as mop-up operations continue on the fire that destroyed 3,045 acres.

The fire - 11 miles southwest of Polson - smoldered and crept very little on Saturday.

Reporter John Stang may be reached at 758-4429 or by e-mail at jstang@dailyinterlake.com