Montana fire managers warn of dire conditions

Fire managers and weather forecasters continued their dire predictions for air quality and wildfires with continued hot and dry conditions throughout western Montana this weekend.

According to the National Weather Service, there is a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in Northwest Montana between Monday and Tuesday night.

But the weekend forecast calls for high temperatures between the mid-90s and 100 degrees with low humidity.

Air quality in the Flathead Valley, Libby and Thompson Falls is currently rated as moderate, while Missoula, Seeley Lake and Frenchtown are rated unhealthy.

Stage I fire restrictions will begin Saturday across Flathead County, the Flathead National Forest, Glacier National Park, and the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation's Kalispell, Stillwater and Swan units.

The rules prohibit campfires except for designated sites with approved fire rings.

Stage II restrictions went into effect Friday in Lincoln, Sanders and Lake counties, meaning all campfires are strictly prohibited. Smoking is not allowed under Stage II rules except within enclosed vehicles or buildings, developed recreation sites, or while stopped in an area at least 3 feet in diameter that is cleared of debris. Operating motorized vehicles off designated roads and trails also is prohibited.

Also, Stage II fire restrictions will begin Saturday throughout most of the Missoula area, including the Flathead Reservation, the Bitterroot and Lolo national forests; U.S. Bureau of Land Management lands; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lands; Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks lands; state trust lands; and private property outside city limits classified as "forested."

ONE NEW wildfire began Thursday evening in the Kootenai National Forest. The Ruby Fire was burning northwest of Troy and listed at about 50 acres.

The Burnt Peak Fire was at 1,716 acres with containment remaining at 10%. On Friday, the Great Basin Type 2 Incident Management Team took command of the fire. A fire camp is located adjacent to Montana 56, south of the junction with U.S. 2.

Motorists are asked to use caution traveling through the area, as heavy equipment will be entering and leaving the camp, especially in the mornings and evenings.

According to Sanders County Wildland Fire Information, the Henry Creek Fire was 100% contained Thursday with mop-up operations continuing on the 202-acre burned area. The fire, located about 7 air miles east of Plains on state DNRC land, started July 6.

Several planes and helicopters dropped water and retardant on the fire, and several engines and tenders from the DNRC and the Plains/Paradise Rural Fire Department battled the blaze. Three DNRC engines and a rural fire tender remained at the scene Thursday and firefighters planned on gridding the fire area and putting out isolated smokes in the next few days.

THURSDAY EVENING in Thompson Falls, fire officials from Sanders County and the West Lolo Complex held a meeting to update residents on fires burning in Sanders and Mineral counties.

They reported the Thorne Creek and Winniemuck fires have grown together. The Thorne Creek Fire, northeast of Thompson Falls, was at about 1,500 acres and still located in rugged terrain in the Cube Iron-Silcox region.

On Friday, fire crews planned to continue scouting and assessing how to prepare along Graves Creek Road from the Lolo National Forest boundary to Vermillion Pass.

Sanders County Emergency Management Director Bill Naegeli explained that evacuation zones and dates have been established if the fire does come down to the valley.

"We have a notification system set up to alert people of evacuations," Naegeli said. "Cellphone users can call in to register for notifications and they can opt out when fire season ends."

The number is 406-827-6955.

ANDY HUNTSBERGER, operations section chief for Incident Management Team 1, said the Thorne Creek Fire will "be here for the foreseeable future unless there is significant rain."

"It's still in very steep and rocky terrain and while it is rated a full suppression fire, it's not viable to go up there with hand crews or even aerial resources at this point," Huntsberger said. "We'll take a look at more indirect approaches such as Graves Creek Road or Thompson River Road to put fire lines in, and we'll be looking to work with private landowners to gain access."

Huntsberger also said winds from the east could push the fire downhill, which would cause much more concern.

"Right now, we're seeing gray smoke, but when we start seeing black smoke it means it's gaining intensity and producing more energy and spot fires," team fire behavior analyst Brian Anderson said.

Some residents who attended the meeting asked what the expectations were for the Thorne Creek Fire.

"We can reasonably predict the weather a few days in advance, but much more than that is very unpredictable and the weather will dictate what the fire does," Anderson said.

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