Water drops keep Lakeside fire in check

The first significant wildland fire of the season in the Flathead Valley area has grown to an estimated 100 acres just west of Lakeside.

Helicopter water drops kept the fire in check on Monday.

The Stoner Creek Fire was detected about 6 p.m. Sunday along Blacktail Road and was initially sized at about 15 acres. The fire is burning on Plum Creek land under Flathead National Forest fire protection.

It is located just to the east of an area burned by the 2009 Baldy Fire.

Firefighters are focusing on the eastern perimeter to prevent the fire from spreading toward populated areas, but no structures are threatened. The nearest buildings are about a quarter mile away.

There were 70 firefighters were on the ground as of Monday afternoon.

The firefighting effort also included seven engines, one bulldozer and three helicopters.

With Flathead Lake being so close, the helicopters were able to make rapid turnarounds with water bucket drops Monday morning before burning conditions heated up.

“They got after it really hard with those three helicopters,” said Wade Muehlhof, public information officer for the Flathead Forest. “Folks out there feel like they made really good progress today.”

Homeowners are able to use the Blacktail Road to reach their properties, but other drivers are urged to avoid using the road because of fire-related traffic.

Meanwhile in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, the lightning-caused Damnation Fire has grown to 2,242 acres in the South Fork Flathead drainage south of Spotted Bear.

The fire is being allowed to play its natural role in wilderness, but structure protection efforts have been completed at Mud Lake Lookout, Salmon Forks Cabin, Big Salmon Creek Bridge, Black Bear Cabin and the Black Bear Bridge.

Forest Service personnel are making contacts with trail and river users informed of possible access changes due to the fire.

Helen Creek Trail, Trail in the Mist, Hodag Creek Trail and the Mud Lake Lookout Trail are closed due to the fire.   

Although other trails around the fire are open, caution is advised since fire conditions can change quickly.  Smoke is to be expected when traveling in this area. 

Smokejumpers responded Sunday to a new fire in Devine Creek sough of Young’s Creek in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. 

Five smokejumpers were dispatched to the one-tenth-acre fire.

For more fire information, go to www.inciweb.org.