Wilderness fire grows rapidly to 500 acres

The U.S. Forest Service is mobilizing forces to fight a 500-acre fire in heavy timber on the east side of the Bob Marshall Wilderness.

According to Spotted Bear District Ranger Deb Mucklow, the fire was spotted early Sunday afternoon near Rapid Creek. Wind, topography and available fuels helped the fire quickly grow.

The lightning-caused Rapid Creek Fire sent up a wide plume of smoke visible Sunday afternoon over the mountains to the east of the Flathead Valley.

“It’s moving toward the Continental Divide, so we are working closely with Lewis and Clark [National Forest] staff,” Mucklow said.

The Forest Service is working to suppress the fire, and shortly before 5 p.m. Sunday was still trying to get helicopter support.

The fire grew from a quarter-acre when first spotted at noon to 500 acres by Sunday evening as it expanded to the east from Flathead National Forest into Lewis and Clark National Forest.

The fire was burning through a forested area containing heavy tree mortality from mountain pine beetles.

“As a public safety issue, we are closing trails,” Mucklow said. “Rapid Creek trail number 139 is closed and Observation Pass number 246 is closed on the Lewis and Clark side.”

Other trail closures include Fiction Creek Trail 272, South Fork of the Sun Trail 202 and Ellis Creek Trail 227.

There are several other fires in the area, including the 700-acre Elbow Pass Fire as well as a seven-acre fire on Triple Divide, which Mucklow said is currently on the Rocky Mountain District but is expected to move into the Spotted Bear district. Resources were moved off that fire Saturday night as a safety precaution.

The Inter Lake will post more information as it becomes available.