Lightning sparks several small fires

It had been a slow fire season on the Flathead National Forest until a Thursday lightning outburst put area firefighters to work on several new fire starts.

Cooler weather and some precipitation in the forecast are expected to help with fire suppression efforts.

The lightning-caused Deer Lick Fire grew to about 10 acres in the Great Bear Wilderness near a ridgetop north of Deer Lick Creek. A management strategy for the fire still is being determined.

The Deer Creek Fire was sparked by lightning about two miles southeast of Camp Misery, the main entrance to the Jewel Basin Hiking Area on the Swan Range.

About 13 firefighters and smokejumpers, along with two helicopters, are working on the two-acre fire. It is expected to be fully contained within the next day.

The fire has prompted temporary closures of the Wolf Creek Trail and the Crater Notch Trail.

The Wildcat Mountain Fire is a spot fire east of Wildcat Mountain on the west side of Hungry Horse Reservoir.

The Fire Creek Fire near Firefighter Mountain on the east side of the reservoir was contained at less than an acre.

And firefighters put an end to the Smith Lake Fire north of Whitefish Lake after it burned just two acres. An abandoned campfire was determined to be the cause of the fire.