Four homes razed by Lolo fires

Fires have burned four homes so far in Western Montana, with high temperatures and increasing winds making the fires likely to keep spreading, a state fire official said Tuesday.

The two fires west of Lolo had been holding most of the day at nearly 8 square miles burned, but the wind speed started picking up Tuesday afternoon, state Department of Natural Resources and Conservation fire spokeswoman Crystal Beckman said.

“The chance of the fire spreading with the wind increase is probable,” she said.

The four homes destroyed in the Lolo Creek complex of fires do not include additional structures that also may have burned, but fire officials were not able to verify a total number, Beckman said.

One hotshot crew, five hand crews, a helicopter and 10 engines and other heavy equipment were battling the fires.

Officials have ordered additional resources and are looking to borrow more where they can.

“The fires in Idaho, California and Washington have put a strain on the resources,” Beckman said.

The Lolo fires may be bumped up in priority when a national Type 1 emergency team takes over management on Wednesday morning, she said.

With soaring temperatures and low humidity, Gov. Steve Bullock declared a state of emergency for 31 counties across western, northern and southeastern Montana.

The rapidly spreading fires west of Lolo are a game changer that promises to stretch resources thin, Bullock said Tuesday.

Additional state resources are needed to reinforce the state’s initial attack capabilities, Bullock’s order said, and the declaration allows the use of National Guard resources from personnel to helicopters.

Those resources will likely be needed, as fire officials said the weather forecast did not bode well.

“Predicted weather over the next several days will continue to challenge firefighters,” fire information officer Cindy Super said. “Heavy smoke will impact air operations, and the potential for fire growth is very high.”

Wind gusts of 40 mph to 50 mph pushed the two lightning-caused fires near Lolo to a combined 5,000 acres, or nearly 8 square miles, by Tuesday morning.

Voluntary evacuations were recommended for residents from Bear Creek Road to Sleeman Road, Beckman said. It was not immediately clear how many houses are in that area.

U.S. 12 was closed to all except residents and emergency personnel from Lolo to the Idaho line. Officers were stopping vehicles and checking identifications, allowing residents through to check their property or help neighbors.

One resident, David Nelson, was ready to leave but was still waiting it out.  

“Everything is packed up,” Nelson said.  “All our vehicles are pointed downhill.”

No injuries were reported. A shelter was established at Christ the King Church in Missoula.

The Missoula County Sheriff’s Office said a man has been found safe after being reported missing while berry picking near Lolo Creek on Monday just before the fire spread to the area.

Mark Hannah, 60, became disoriented and was separated from a friend as the two headed back because of the thickening smoke, sheriff’s spokeswoman Paige Pavalone said.

At least 19 notable fires were burning across the state on Tuesday, according to fire officials.

A new fire forced the closure of a portion of U.S. 212 about 5 miles south of Red Lodge and led to the evacuations of three homes in the Rock Creek area, fire officials said.

The fire was burning about 200 acres along the highway near the Rock Creek Resort. The road, also known as the Beartooth Highway, connects Yellowstone National Park and Red Lodge over the 10,947-foot Beartooth Pass.

In Northwest Montana, firefighters closed in on the 105-acre Stoner Creek Fire west of Lakeside Tuesday, building direct hand lines and mopping up where possible.

Water bucket drops from helicopters since the fire was detected Sunday evening allowed for direct attack to proceed.

The fire, located on Plum Creek land along Blacktail Road, has about 75 people working on it along with the helicopters, six engines and a bulldozer.

In the Bob Marshall Wilderness, the Damnation Fire has continued to be active, growing about 700 acres on Monday to cover a total of 3,000 acres on slopes west of the South Fork Flathead River.

While the fire is being allowed to burn for resource benefits, it has prompted structure protection efforts at the Mud Lake Lookout, Salmon Forks Cabin, Big Salmon Creek Bridge, Black Bear Cabin and the Black Bear Bridge.

Several trails in the vicinity of the fire have also been temporarily closed.

Nearby in the wilderness, the Snow Creek Fire has covered 40 acres in steep, rocky terrain in the upper portions of the Snow Creek drainage.