Crews work to protect structures near Essex fire

The Paola Ridge Fire grew to more than 400 acres Thursday and with it the force battling the blaze.

The fire on the Flathead Forest was reported at 370 acres Wednesday, which prompted officials to issue an evacuation warning to some residents near Essex.

Areas under the warning are from mile marker 176 to 179, including Branch Road, Bugling Elk Trail, Dickey Creek Loop, Eagle Haunts Run and Lazy Moose Trail.

Future updates to this information can be found at the Flathead County Office of Emergency Services Facebook page.

The fire on Thursday was active and had backed down into the Paola Creek drainage. Firefighters constructed a fuel break from Dickey Creek Road to the local gravel pit and were working north toward Paola Creek Road.

Crews also began installing pumps, water hose and sprinklers for structures affected by the evacuation notice. There are more than 78 people working on the fire line.

The fire is expected to grow with hot, dry weather Thursday. The National Weather Service is predicting a 20 to 30 percent chance of thunderstorms from Friday through Sunday.

Crews planned to use heavy equipment Thursday and were going to continue working north to put a fuel break in the area, near the railroad and U.S. 2.

An area closure order is in place, closing the area and local roads and trails, though local landowner traffic will be permitted. U.S. 2 was not closed by this area closure. A temporary flight restriction is in place, aircraft and drones are not allowed over the fire area.

Also on the Flathead Forest, the Coal Ridge Fire west of Polebridge was listed at 266 acres Thursday. There are no evacuation warnings in place on this incident.

Reporter Scott Shindledecker can be reached at (406) 758-4441 or sshindledecker@dailyinterlake.com.