Spotted Bear River fire balloons to 1,300 acres

A 10-acre lightning-caused wildfire just north of the Spotted Bear River roared to life Thursday afternoon and is now estimated at 1,300 acres.

The Trail Creek Fire isn’t threatening any structures and is burning through mixed conifer forest at the edge of the Great Bear Wilderness about 15 miles from Schafer Meadows Airstrip.

Tad Wehunt, a resource adviser for the Flathead National Forest, said Friday’s incoming wind precluded fire managers at the Spotted Bear Ranger District from dispatching planes to fly over the fire.

“It was kind of hanging out at 10 acres most of the day yesterday, and then in the afternoon it had a pretty good run to the northeast and east,” Wehunt said Friday.

No firefighting resources have been deployed to combat the fire.

“We’re pretty strapped on resources. We do have a couple engines patrolling Spotted Bear River Road,” Wehunt added. “It kind of crept back down a little bit toward the road, but most of the activity is into Big Bill Creek.”

Since Thursday afternoon, 10 firefighters have been making progress on the quarter-acre Surprise Creek Fire two to three miles from the wilderness airstrip.

Schafer includes a ranger station and dwelling, a bunkhouse, detached sheds, a barn and a blacksmith shop.

A Tuesday morning lightning storm ignited over a dozen fires in and around the wilderness, including the latest large fire at Trail Creek.

Officials are focusing personnel on fires that could threaten structures, particularly given the potential for today’s storm front to accelerate fire growth.

“We just bulked up with additional forest personnel, some folks from other districts to help out,” Wehunt said. “We’re definitely keeping tabs on the weather, with a big push today as we try to stay on top of who is where and making sure everyone is in the know.”

Reporter Samuel Wilson can be reached at 758-4407 or by email at swilson@dailyinterlake.com