National Guard called to Lolo Peak Fire
A bomber drops a load of fire retardant below the Lolo Peak fire creeping down the face of the ridge toward the Bitterroot Valley, Friday, Aug. 18, 2017 in Missoula, Mont. The Lolo Peak Fire in western Montana blew up overnight leading law enforcement officers to order the evacuation of up to 400 more homes west of the town of Lolo. (Kurt Wilson/The Missoulian via AP)
National Guard troops were called to the rapidly growing Lolo Peak Fire south of Missoula after it made another big run on Friday.
The 155 soldiers in Lolo will monitor 35 security checkpoints where an evacuation order is in place. The troops will relieve law enforcement officers, freeing them up so they can return to other duties.
The wildfire burned an additional 14 square miles Friday and now has charred an estimated 44 square miles of wooded, mountainous terrain west of Lolo.
The fire destroyed two homes and several outbuildings Thursday but no structures burned during the fire’s run Friday. The fire has flared up after burning since at least July 15.
Other significant wildfires in Western Montana remained active Saturday, as well.
The lightning-caused Sprague Fire in the Lake McDonald drainage of Glacier National Park grew 238 acres Friday and is now estimated to be 824 acres. The majority of the growth is into the Sprague Creek drainage.
Helicopters were used to drop water on the south edge of the fire on Saturday.
Mount Brown Lookout has been wrapped with material to protect it from heat and embers, and Sperry Chalet has a pump and hose system in place to operate sprinklers with water from a nearby pond. Firefighters have also installed sprinklers to protect Crystal Ford footbridge.
Closures remain in place for the Gunsight Pass Trail from Lake McDonald to Gunsight Pass, including all secondary trails. Some backcountry campgrounds are closed due to fire activity.
The Blue Bay Fire east of Flathead Lake is now at 255 acres and is burning into the Mission Valley front. The fire was 10 percent contained on Friday.
Firefighters were working to keep the blaze from moving north-northwest toward houses, and Highway 35. Dozer lines and possibly some explosives were to be used to quickly create control lines. Pre-evacuation warnings remain in place for the Blue Bay and Eastshore communities.
Predicted gusty winds never materialized near Eureka, allowing crews on Friday to make more progress on containing the 2,800-acre Gibralter Fire. There are now 15 miles of shaded fuels break along the Foothills and Graves Creek, and the fire is 13 percent contained.
A Plastic Sphere Dispensing machine that uses ping pong balls to ignite small fires on the forest floor was used Saturday. These small fires cause creeping flames along the low lying areas burning toward established lines.
The 400-acre Tamarack Fire west of Kalispell and north of the Thompson Lakes area is now 40 percent contained. Three helicopters assisted firefighters Friday with numerous water drops throughout the day.
The Sunrise Fire 11 miles southeast of Superior is now at 24,038 acres and is 35 percent contained. The Great Basin National Incident Management Team 1 assumed command of the fire on Saturday.
Over the last few days, helicopters spread about 100,000 gallons of retardant on the north side of the Trout Creek drainage. About 585 firefighters are working the blaze.
The Rice Ridge Fire near Seeley Lake has burned 14,834 acres and is 10 percent contained. The lake at Seeley Lake, Clearwater Canoe trail and the Big Larch Boat Launch have been opened following extended closures due to the fire. Big Larch campground, however, remains closed.