Drawing the lines on fires

Calm weather slows growth of blazes in Northwest Montana

A mandatory evacuation was lifted Saturday evening for residents around Niarada and the north portion of Lonepine, after successful burning operations at the Chippy Creek Fire.

The wind was calmer and mostly out of the southwest, allowing crews on the northeast end of the fire to complete those operations, fire information officer Dyan Bone said. Crews still are doing burnouts near a Hubbart Reservoir subdivision, where the evacuation is still in effect.

The fire, which is burning southwest of Kalispell, was estimated at 59,029 acres Saturday, up from 56,365 acres Friday afternoon. More than 500 firefighters are assigned to the fire.

Most of today's efforts are expected to center around burnouts, Bone said.

"They're trying to seal in containment lines to get a good, strong line," she said.

Fire lines have been established along much of the perimeter, she added. "Now it's just connecting the dots."

After that's accomplished, Bone added, hand crews may be able to go in and build lines to attack the fire more directly.

"Once the line gets solid around there, there will be availability to go more direct, as conditions appear safe," she said.

Skyland Fire

Crews on other fires in the area also enjoyed a relatively calm Saturday. The Skyland Fire, burning south of Marias Pass, grew less than 700 acres to 39,820 acres. It's estimated to be 34 percent contained.

The fire did, however, establish itself in the White Rock Creek drainage - a very inaccessible area, fire information officer Annette Gomez said.

Firefighters continued to construct lines on the northeast end of the fire to reduce the risk of flames spreading toward East Glacier. U.S. 2 remains open, but there are some speed restrictions for travelers headed toward Glacier National Park.

Today, crews will continue to hold the lines and mop up about one mile south of Marias Pass, Gomez said.

Brush Creek Fire

Firefighters on the Brush Creek Fire connected lines across the north end of the fire Saturday, north and west of Dunsire Point.

"We're waiting to see how it holds," fire information officer Mary Huels said. "There were a few spot [fires] across it; we're hitting those with helicopters."

Crews did some burnout operations on the southeast part of the fire as well, she said. There is now a line around the entire fire; in some places, firefighters have been able to build a direct line.

"If the hand line doesn't make it, we still have the big dozer line," she said.

The fire was estimated at 24,270 acres Saturday evening, up from 22,928 acres Thursday. Some of that growth was due to burnout, Huels said.

"We're making sure it doesn't get a run on us past the line," she said. "The problem is, tomorrow is supposed to be windy again."

Crews likely will concentrate on holding the line this afternoon, when winds are expected to pick up. They hope to continue burnout operations Monday, Huels said.

Two hotshot crews joined the ranks Saturday, swelling the number of firefighters to nearly 500.

No information was available Saturday afternoon on the Ranger Ridge Fire.

Reporter Kristi Albertson may be reached at 758-4438 or by e-mail at kalbertson@dailyinterlake.com.