Crews respond to wildfire
<p class="p1"><strong>A responder</strong> to the wildfire near Jewel Basin watches as a helicopter prepares to dump water on the flames.</p>
A roadside fire near the Jewel Basin on Sunday afternoon prompted quick response from multiple local agencies.
The fire started at about 4:30 p.m., next to Jewel Basin Road, and was pushing uphill according to first responders. It posed a risk to jump over a ridge, creating a fire on two fronts and blocking a road.
Bigfork, Creston and Ferndale fire departments responded, along with U.S. Forest Service vehicles and a helicopter from the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. About six engines initially responded along with three water tanks, and hand crews got to work building fire lines around the blaze on two flanks.
The fire was initially reported by Bigfork Fire Department Assistant Chief Mick Borges, who said he first saw the pillar of smoke from his house nearby. Speaking at 6:30 p.m. at the scene, he added that flames were soaring more than 30 feet into the air when he arrived with with two other initial responders.
Wind conditions were blowing north at 5 to 7 mph at the time of the fire, but Bigfork Fire Department Chief Wayne Loeffler noted that gusts had quickly whipped the flames uphill.
“There was a little bit of a breeze going up there,” he said. “You can see what happens when it’s this dry. We’re about two to three weeks ahead [of normal conditions] by now.”
As of press time, the fire was not yet under control. Loeffler said he hoped to have it contained by early evening.
“It’s just kind of snaking around up there,” he said, gesturing uphill. “Now the task is to get it surrounded with hose and get a game plan together for DNRC and the Forest Service for tomorrow.”
Firefighters closed down Jewel Basin Road while fighting the fire. Loeffler noted that where it began is a popular shooting area, but the cause of the fire was still unknown as of press time.