California wildfires affecting local air quality
While wildfires in Northwest Montana have been minimal, smoke from blazes burning in California has settled into the region, creating some moderate health effects.
The moderate rating has been issued for Northwest Montana locations in the Flathead Valley, Libby, Thompson Falls and Cut Bank.
It rose to a rating of unhealthy for sensitive groups Tuesday afternoon in areas including Missoula, Frenchtown and Seeley Lake.
According to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, a moderate rating indicates the possibility of aggravation of heart or lung disease among persons with cardiopulmonary disease and the elderly.
A rating of unhealthy for sensitive groups means there is an increasing likelihood of respiratory symptoms in sensitive individuals, aggravation of heart or lung disease and premature mortality in persons with cardiopulmonary disease and the elderly.
The department recommends people with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children should limit prolonged exertion.
An air quality alert was in effect for several counties, including Granite, Jefferson, Judith Basin, Lewis and Clark, Missoula, Park, Phillips, Powell, Ravalli, and Silver Bow, in effect until further notice.
Fortunately, showers and thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and evening for much of the state.
According to the Department of Environmental Quality, these storms will kick off a change in the upper-level flow pattern. Later in the week, flow is expected to switch from the southwest to the west, which will help to push smoke from California out of Montana.
California fire officials have reported more than 650 wildfires have burned more than 1.25 million acres since Aug. 15. Many in the northern part of the state were caused by lightning strikes.
Two fires burning in the Flathead National Forest are showing very limited growth. The Garnet and Lion Creek fires are at about 200 and 170 acres, respectively.
The only fire in Western Montana showing much growth is the Cinnabar Fire in Granite County on the Lolo National Forest, south of Missoula.
According to information from U.S. Forest Service officials, the fire grew rapidly late Monday, early Tuesday and is now estimated at 2,000 acres.
Smoke and low visibility prevented prior air assessments of the fire before the last 12 hours. Aerial assessments indicate substantial fire growth has occurred to the north, northeast, and southeast away from the Bitterroot Divide and back into the Welcome Creek Wilderness.
The fire perimeter is now approximately 3 miles west of the bottom of Rock Creek. The fire is still burning within the Welcome Creek Wilderness boundary, on the Lolo National Forest in Granite County.
Due to complexity of the incident and location, a Type 2 Incident Command Team has been ordered for the fire and is expected to arrive Wednesday.
Fire officials said the active behavior is attributed to heavy, dead and downed fuels from previous burned areas and beetle-kill; dry and warm conditions; and terrain-driven fire activity. The fire is making short runs up steep slopes, group torching and backing downslope.
No structures or infrastructure are threatened at this time. but the entire Welcome Creek Wilderness, including all interior trails, is closed to public entry. Also, all National Forest System lands south of the Welcome Mountain Road 4249 and the Bitterroot Divide Road 2129 and the Bitterroot/Rock Creek Divide Trail 313 are closed north of Ambrose Saddle. Everything south of Ambrose Saddle and Wahlquist Ridge Trail 233 remains open.
Other closures include Solomon Ridge Trail 142; all National Forest System lands west of Rock Creek beginning above high water mark on the western bank of Rock Creek; all National Forest lands north of the Wahlquist Ridge Trail 233, including the trailhead, to its intersection with the Bitterroot/Rock Creek Divide Trail 313; and all National Forest System lands to the east of the Bitterroot Divide Road 2129 and the Bitterroot/Rock Creek Divide Trail 313 at its intersection with Cinnamon Bear Saddle.
In the Rock Creek, Missoula Ranger District (Granite/Missoula counties), the Rock Creek Road 102 corridor and recreation access remains open. The Welcome Creek bridge remains open for fishing access only, below the high-water mark on the west bank of Rock Creek. All fishing access sites and campgrounds in Rock Creek remain open.
Fire crews planned to continue to strengthen and remove fuel along the Bitterroot/Rock Creek Divide Trail 313 and Bitterroot Divide Road 2129 north toward its junction with Eightmile Saddle.
Helicopters did not conduct bucket drops due to visibility and ineffectiveness.
They included 71 personnel, one Hotshot crew, a hand crew and five engines.
Reporter Scott Shindledecker may be reached at 758-4441 or sshindledecker@dailyinterlake.com.