Fire in field west of Kalispell covers 50 acres amid record heat
<p>South Kalispell firefighter Michael Moseley works to put out flames near the base of a tree Friday afternoon at a wildfire off of Whalebone Drive west of Kalispell. Friday, March, 9, 2012 in Kalispell, Mont.</p>
<p>Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake A fire burns through 50-acres of a field off of Whalebone Drive west of Kalispell Friday afternoon. Friday, March, 9, 2012 in Kalispell, Mont.</p>
<p>Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake Smith Valley, South Kalispell and West Valley Fire Departments responded Friday afternoon to a 50-acre fire off of Whalebone Drive west of Kalispell. Friday, March, 9, 2012 in Kalispell, Mont.</p>
<p>Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake South Kalispell Volunteer Fire Department chief Chris Yerkes uses a radio to direct other firefighters to a new line of fire Friday afternoon at a 50-acre fire off of Whalebone Drive west of Kalispell. Friday, March, 9, 2012 in Kalispell, Mont.</p>
<p>Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake Smith Valley, South Kalispell and West Valley Fire Departments responded Friday afternoon to a 50-acre fire off of Whalebone Drive west of Kalispell. Friday, March, 9, 2012 in Kalispell, Mont.</p>
<p>Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake Smith Valley firefighter Travis Cik drags a hose across the scorched ground of a 50-acre fire off of Whalebone Drive west of Kalispell Friday afternoon. Friday, March, 9, 2012 in Kalispell, Mont.</p>
<p>Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake Smith Valley, South Kalispell and West Valley Fire Departments responded Friday afternoon to a 50-acre fire off of Whalebone Drive west of Kalispell. Friday, March, 9, 2012 in Kalispell, Mont.</p>
A field fire off Whalebone Drive west of Kalispell quickly grew to 50 acres before it was stopped by multiple fire departments Friday afternoon.
The fire did not damage any structures, but it attracted firefighting resources from the West Valley, Smith Valley and South Kalispell fire departments as well as the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation.
When it was initially reported at about 2 p.m., it was estimated to have covered about 30 acres. By the time it was contained a couple of hours later, it had burned an estimated 50 acres.
One firefighter at the scene said the fire is believed to have been started by a debris burn that got out of control.
The unusual early March fire burned as temperatures reached 62 degrees, a new record high for March 9 in the Flathead Valley. The previous record was 61 degrees set in 1953.