Red flag warning in Glacier, Flathead

Numerous wildfires continued to burn across Western Montana on Tuesday as a relentless hot and dry weather pattern kept the fire danger at extreme.

A red flag warning was issued for the Flathead Valley and Glacier National Park through Wednesday morning. The warning means that critical fire weather conditions are possible due to gusting winds and low humidity. East winds of 10 to 20 mph are in the forecast, with gusts up to 30 mph at times, according to the National Weather Service in Missoula.

While a few small grass fires spotted up over the weekend in Northwest Montana, most of the large wildfires west of the Continental Divide are burning south of the area.

Evacuation warnings were issued Tuesday for some residents in rural areas north of Seeley Lake due to the uncontrolled Rice Ridge Fire. The lightning-cause blaze was sparked July 24 and has burned about 4,000 acres on the Lolo National Forest.

Residents on both sides of Highway 83 south of Rice Ridge Road and immediately south of Cottonwood Lakes Road east of Highway 83 were notified of the evacuation order.

The Rice Ridge fire has burned to within 2 miles of Cottonwood Lake Road and within 4 miles of the Highway 83.

The nearby Liberty Fire has burned about 2,500 acres west of Placid Lake, also along Highway 83. Fire officials said easterly winds should keep the fire from advancing toward Placid Lake on Wednesday, however an evacuation warning for the community remained in place.

East of Seeley Lake, the Monahan Fire on the southern Flathead National Forest has burned about 1,500 acres. The fire was being managed to play its natural ecological role as it burned into the Bob Marshall Wilderness. There are some trail closures in place.

Fire officials on Tuesday closed Seeley Lake to recreationists so that crews can safely draw the water to fight the three nearby fires. Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials said the closure takes effect immediately.

Seeley Lake residents are also being told to prepare for a possible evacuation.

The Sunrise Fire burning in Mineral County near Superior has burned 6,400 acres. The fire is just 5 percent contained. An evacuation order was issued July 31 for residents in the Sunrise Creek, Quartz Flats, Quartz Creek and Verde Creek areas.

The Sapphire Complex is the largest active fire west of the Continental Divide. The series of fires has burned more than 12,500 acres in the Rock Creek drainage near Missoula. Granite County officials ordered residents along a 12-mile stretch of Rock Creek to leave their homes.

For the most up-to-date wildfire information, visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov

Fire officials say that wildfire smoke that moved into the Flathead Valley on Tuesday most likely came from the fires burning near Seeley Lake and Superior.

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality rated air quality in the Flathead as moderate for most of Tuesday.

Particulate levels in Seeley Lake were considered hazardous due to the Rice Ridge Fire, while levels in Butte, Hamilton, Helena, Philipsburg and Superior were rated as unhealthy for sensitive groups.