Cigarette likely cause of Highway 37 Fire

A discarded cigarette was the likely cause of a wildfire burning north of Libby along Highway 37, according to fire officials. The blaze was estimated at 51 acres Monday morning and was 10 percent contained.

Crews experienced slight growth toward the highway over the weekend, but no intense heat was visible within the fire zone 4 miles north of Libby. Air resources provided water as flare ups occurred. Crews on Monday planned to reinforce fire lines and perform mop up.

A team specially trained to work within Operating Unit 3 of the Libby Asbestos Superfund site remained on the scene in case the fire encroached on a former W.R. Grace vermiculite mine site approximately 1.5 miles north of the fire.

Other resources included a 10-person contract crew, two engine crews, miscellaneous air support and ground equipment.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks reopened a portion of the Kootenai River near Libby that was temporarily closed due to fire activity. The emergency closure was on the section of river from the Osprey Landing boat ramp to the Montana Highway 37 bridge in Libby.

Fueled by grass, shrubs and timber, the fire started July 19 and raced up a steep slope across from an enclave of homes along the Kootenai River. It grew to 30 acres within a few hours.

In other parts of Montana, fire crews working on the 1,068-acre Reynolds Lake Fire burning on the Bitterroot and Salmon-Challis National Forests southwest of Darby achieved around 15 percent containment with no growth over the weekend.

A total of 240 personnel on scene finished digging a perimeter around 70 percent of the lightning-caused blaze.

Firefighters on Monday planned to build a hand line, focusing on the unsecured northeast side of the fire. Mop up work also began Monday around 50 feet into the west and south perimeters of the fire.

A 25-acre fire near the Montana boundary of Yellowstone National Park, 20 miles south of Big Sky, was reported July 20.

The lightning-caused Bacon Rind Fire was burning in the Lee Metcalf Wilderness area about 2 miles west of Highway 191.

The fire was not threatening any structures or roads as of Monday, but fire personnel and Yellowstone Park officials continued close coordination efforts.

Air quality across Montana remained good over the weekend, with Missoula, Butte, Broadus and Frenchtown reaching moderate as of Monday.

A cold front Monday night followed by northwest flow over the next week was expected to keep smoke impacts to a minimum with a high of moderate air quality predicted unless fire activity increased.

For hourly updates on smoke concentrations, visit TodaysAir.mt.gov.