Elmo Fire threatening 50 structures

More evacuation orders were issued overnight Monday and Tuesday as winds pushed the Elmo 2 Fire precariously close to U.S. 93 near Chief Cliff, prompting a temporary closure of the major thoroughfare.

The fire west of Flathead Lake had consumed 16,226 acres as of Tuesday morning, an increase of more than 3,000 acres from the previous day. It was 10% contained.

Evacuation orders from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office included the area south of Lake Mary Ronan Road from the intersections of Camp Tuffit Road to U.S. 93, and west of U.S. 93 from Lake Mary Ronan Road to Chief Cliff Lane.

Pre-evacuation warnings were issued for residences north of Lake Mary Ronan Road and east and south of U.S. 93 between intersections with Montana 28 and Lake Mary Ronan Road.

Red Cross evacuation centers were set up at Polson High School and Somers Middle School.

U.S. 93 was temporarily closed Monday night to traffic between Dayton and Elmo due to fire activity and thick smoke reducing visibility. Lake County Sheriff Don Bell said the fire had reached within 200 feet of the highway.

Tuesday morning, Montana Highway Patrol was warning motorists to use caution in this area with traffic reduced to a single lane. Parking in the fire area is prohibited.

Gusting winds Monday afternoon pushed the blaze east and north toward Flathead Lake and U.S. 93. The footprint reached Chief Cliff Lane and the west portion of Black Lake Road, and totally surrounded Black Lake.

As many as 50 structures are threatened by the fire. At least one structure was destroyed Monday, officials said at a public meeting later that evening.

RJ Brewer owns a home on hill that overlooks Dayton and Flathead Lake. Flight crews were dumping water and retardant near his house Monday as the fire came within 100 yards of his property.

“I’m not going anywhere tonight,” he said Monday. “I’m going to be right here watching my house as long as I can. All night, if I have to.”

He said he recently received a grant for fire fuel reduction work around his home.

“I spent my whole adult life working on that house and I’m going to be right here if I lose it,” he said.

The fire boundary remained about 2 miles south of Lake Mary Ronan. Fire crews were able to establish containment lines on the south flank along Montana 28.

Scooper aircraft and single-engine air tankers were used to douse the fire, but were grounded for a period of time as winds picked up. Air resources were to be used again Tuesday, providing water and retardant drops.

Nearly 300 firefighters are assigned to the fire that is being managed by the John Thompson, Northern Rockies Team 7.

Mission Valley Power on Tuesday shut off power at Black Lake Road, the Proctor club hous and Hog Heaven at the request of Lake County Emergency Management. Electricty in these areas was expected to remain off through the day.

Hot and dry conditions were predicted again Tuesday, with afternoon winds from the west bringing gusts up to 35 mph. A red flag warning was issued by the National Weather Service.

Lake County Commissioners on Tuesday issued an emergency declaration that moved the county into Stage II fire restrictions, which prohibits campfires.

The human-caused Elmo 2 Fire started July 29 and quickly spread into thick timber north of Montana 28.

The cost to fight the blaze was estimated at nearly $900,000 as of Monday.

Meanwhile, another small fire cropped up Monday evening in the Mission Mountains north of St. Ignatius. The lightning-cause Redhorn Fire was 37 acres in size and burning in thick timber on steep and rugged terrain. A local Type 3 team was assigned to the blaze.

In northern Lincoln County, the lightning-caused Weasel Fire was estimated at 146 acres. It’s burning the Ten Lakes Scenic Area near the historic Weasel Cabin.