B.C. fires cloud skies over valley

That haze obscuring the mountains — and brightening sunset and sunrise — is smoke from fires in British Columbia.

More than 350 fires covering almost 150,000 acres are burning across the province, particularly in the Cariboo and Kamloops regions of British Columbia.

According to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, the smoke plume from the British Columbia fires mixed down to the surface in Northwest Montana.

The smoke was thickest Tuesday in the Libby area, where the air was rated “unhealthy for sensitive groups.”

That means people with respiratory or heart disease, seniors and children should avoid prolonged exertion outside, according to state air-quality guidelines.

Air quality was rated “moderate” in the Kalispell area.

Fire activity in Montana is minimal and is not contributing to the smoky skies.

Activity has diminished in recent days on the Cardinal Creek wildfire in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, but another lightning-caused fire has emerged in the wilderness.

The Christopher Lake Fire is burning in the Bungalow Mountain area about 20 miles southeast of the Spotted Bear Ranger Station.

It is estimated to cover less than an acre. No suppression activities are planned for the fire, allowing for it play its natural role in the wilderness.

That’s the same approach so far for the lightning-caused Cardinal Creek Fire, which has burned about 2,000 acres but has not grown over the last few days. It is located deep in the wilderness about 18 miles southeast of Condon.

The fire prompted the closure of several trails, but the Gordon Creek Trail recently reopened.

People planning to travel on the trail are asked to check with the Spotted Bear Ranger District prior to doing so.

On the Web:

http://svc.mt.gov/deq/smokereport