Fires west of Kalispell 100 percent contained

Crews have fully contained five wildfires burning west of Kalispell, 11 days after lightning sparked the blazes that charred about 1,200 total acres.

The Montana Department of Natural Resources on Thursday was set to take over command of the Rogers Mountain-Lazier Creek 3 fires burning off U.S. 2 near the Thompson chain of lakes. The Thompson’s Type II Incident Management Team was in command of the fires, with 436 firefighters on the scene earlier this week.

While crews were removing hose and other equipment from secure areas on Thursday, some resources, including fire engines, were to remain on scene to patrol the fire.

All road closures have been lifted in the area.

A handful of other fires are still burning on the Flathead National Forest.

The largest is burning alpine terrain in the Southern Spotted Bear Ranger District. The 175-acre Monahan Fire started on July 16 on the Lolo National Forest in the Seeley Lake District and has since spread onto the Flathead Forest.

The high-elevation fire is being managed to play its natural role. A few trail closures in the area include the Limestone Pass trail No. 143 and Blackfoot Divide trail No. 278.

Eight other active fires in the region have burned less than 1 acre each.

Since July 1 a total of 97 wildfires have been reported in western Montana, according to the Flathead Office of Emergency Services. While many were lightning caused, at least half of these were human caused.

The current fire danger is rated as “very high.” Campfires are banned on Weyerhaeuser property in Flathead, Lake, Lincoln, Missoula, Sanders and Ravalli counties due to very high fire danger.

Interagency fire officials say they will continue to monitor conditions to determine if other fire restrictions are needed.