'Strong firefight' corrals fire near Lakeside

Fire crews transitioned from pushing back flames to moving into the interior of the 60-acre Bierney Creek Fire Wednesday afternoon as they soaked hot spots and attacked smaller fires that broke out outside of the fire’s perimeter.

The fire broke out Monday afternoon two miles west of Lakeside, surrounding some homes and threatening 75 structures.

The cause still is under investigation.

No buildings burned, but residents in the hills above Lakeside have been told to be prepared for evacuation in case the wildfire gains ground.

Ali Evans, spokeswoman with the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, said the fire was 20 percent contained Wednesday night. Due to better mapping, its estimated size was decreased from 80 to 60 acres.

Shawn Borgen, superintendent of the Flathead Interagency Hotshots, said Wednesday that fire lines wrapped around 70 percent of the fire’s perimeter.

“This was a very strong firefight and strong effort on the part of every firefighter on the ground out here to keep this fire at the footprint it is sitting at right now,” Borgen said. “We’re definitely coming into a realm … of low key. But things can be unpredictable. Wind can pick up and start causing flare-ups.”

The firefighting effort has involved roughly 100 personnel, two bulldozers, nine engines and two helicopters.

Borgen said when crews first arrived Monday, dry weather with high winds helped fan the flames while rolling hills made the fire’s route unpredictable. Crews gained ground Tuesday night when they were graced with cloud coverage and cooler weather.

Borgen said the fire was unique due in how many homes it endangered.

“The thing this fire has going for it is the access,” he said. “And resources. Once we get to this time of year, the two hottest-demand ticket items were hotshot crews and helicopters … and this fire had both.”

With Flathead Lake nearby, crews were able to get increased air support from helicopters dropping water on the flames. Borgen estimated the turnaround time for helicopter bucket loads was two minutes, instead of a more common 20 to 40 minutes.

The fire also was accessible to ground crews and trucks because of the road network and sporadic managed woods with gaps between trees that created fire breaks.

Borgen said the hotshot crew was set to leave Wednesday night to provide assistance on the Copper King Fire near Thompson Falls — which as of Wednesday evening had covered 21,045 acres, leaving 45 homes in evacuation status and 130 in alert status.

Remaining crews at the Bierney Creek Fire were working to remove hazardous trees, cool off hot spots and put out sporadic flames. Borgen said that would continue until it rains.

“You can’t replace Mother Nature,” he said. “This will be staffed until we have a significant change in weather — and that could mean snow on the ground.”

On Wednesday afternoon, Rick Trembath with the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation walked through charred ground and pointed to rolling hills to the west where wind had pushed flames.

He said each fire has its own character and topography, meaning crews need to stay alert even as they get the upper hand on a fire.

As he walked through smoking ground, he talked about the danger of tree roots burning until they turn into ash and suddenly fall.

He said the major risk in fighting fires in the Flathead area seems to be falling trees.

“In the Flathead National Forest area, we’ve had four fatalities with snags and nobody has burned up,” Trembath said.

He said those tragedies are always in firefighters’ minds while they are battling wildfires — especially since Lolo hotshot crew member Justin Beebe died less than two weeks ago when he was struck by a tree while fighting the Strawberry Fire.

He said Beebe’s life and death were on many people’s mind as teams mobilized to the Bierney Creek Fire.

“In the sense, ‘But therefore by the grace of God go I,’ when it happens like that to somebody, you always think that could have been you,” he said. “And you identify with that, and it sticks with you on every fire.”

THE local hotshot crew was sent to the Bierney Creek Fire after less than two days of rest between jobs. The 20-member team had worked 80 days so far this summer and had an unknown number to go.

Dan Stueben of the Flathead Hotshots worked with another member to cool smoking ground Thursday afternoon.

He said while safety is always a priority, responding to a scene becomes routine — the crews dig the line, set the hose and then begin to mop it up.

What made this fire feel different from the rest was how close it was to home and how many structures were in the flames’ path.

“We have a lot of experience in our crew, so little curveballs like this [fire] are easily handled and it’s kind of like just another day — the grunts do their thing and the bosses make the calls,” Stueben said. “But it’s fun, it’s hard to get out of this work, it kind of just sucks you in.”

Reporter Katheryn Houghton may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at khoughton@dailyinterlake.com.