High winds fanned fires

High winds late into Saturday night fanned fires across western Montana.

Sustained gusts as high as 30 mph in some places with even stronger winds in higher elevations led to increased fire activity in many of the area's active wildfires, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

At Logan Pass, winds Saturday night reached a sustained rate of 56 mph and gusted up to 96 mph, according to data from the National Weather Service.

The Ninko Creek Fire, located in rough terrain about 40 miles north of Columbia Falls in the North Fork drainage, grew from 35 acres Saturday morning to 500 acres by Sunday evening.

Several fire engines, aerial resources and the Flathead Hot Shot Crew are assigned to the blaze, which made a 2.5-mile run toward the area burned in the Wedge Fire of 2003.

Fire management officials, who are monitoring the situation, have adopted a "confine and contain" strategy coupled with active suppression efforts.

Some forest roads, including Whale Creek Road, Ninko Creek Road and Wedge Canyon Road, are closed. Trail closures are anticipated as well.

Also in the Flathead National Forest, the Gabe Creek Fire in the Bob Marshall Wilderness was last reported at 1,700 acres.

Located in the Spotted Bear Ranger District about 19 miles northeast of Seeley Lake, the fire is not being suppressed but is being managed for resource benefits.

The fire, which started in early August from a lightning strike, has seen no substantial growth despite Saturday's high winds and is burning mostly on the interior.

Smoke also was visible Sunday from the Lost Creek Fire, a 1,000-acre prescribed burn east of Swan Lake.

Crews are monitoring the burn, started in mid-September, after Increased fire activity caused by high winds Saturday burned an additional 60 acres near Crevice Lake. The interior of the fire continued to burn actively.

Trail closures in the area are anticipated, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

The Saddle Mountain Fire, about three miles west of Arlee, was held to 465 acres despite 18 mph wind gusts Saturday, according to fire officials with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.

Crews worked to prevent the fire, which is burning in steep terrain with numerous rock outcroppings and cliff areas, from moving onto private lands north and east of its current location.

Firefighters continued to construct lines around the fire, now 30 percent contained, and will soon begin mop-up operations within 100 feet of the fire's perimeter.

Nine 20-person crews, two helicopters, two single-engine air tankers, two bulldozers, four water tankers and numerous fire engines from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes are assigned to the blaze.

Authorities said the fire's origin is suspected arson and is currently under investigation.

Motorists on U.S. 93 through Arlee should see an increase in fire traffic and are advised to use caution as smoke from the fire may impede driving conditions. The use of headlights is encouraged.

In the Bitterroot National Forest, the Kootenai Creek Fire about seven miles northwest of Stevensville grew Sunday to 5,645 acres.

Started in mid-July by a lightning strike, the fire is about 10 percent contained and is being worked on by almost 300 firefighters and numerous aircraft.

In the Kootenai National Forest, the Lawrence Mountain Fire has burned about 1,500 acres three miles west of Lake Koocanusa and 15 miles north of Libby Dam.

That fire is being monitored but not actively suppressed, according to fire officials.

Reporter Nicholas Ledden can be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at nledden@dailyinterlake.com