Doris Point Fire expands to 763 acres
A plume of smoke from the Doris Point Fire is seen from the Hungry Horse Reservoir on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023. (Flathead National Forest photo)
An aerial view of the Doris Point Fire along the west side of Hungry Horse Reservoir on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023. (Flathead National Forest photo)
Air quality in the Flathead Valley deteriorated Wednesday as area wildfires kicked up new smoke plumes amid a record-setting heat wave.
Monitoring stations in Kalispell showed the air quality status fluctuating between “unhealthy for sensitive groups” and “moderate” for most of Wednesday morning. By Thursday, air quality was expected to dip to “unhealthy” levels across Northwest Montana.
An impressive smoke plume from the Doris Point Fire spilled over the Swan Range into the valley on Tuesday evening. The fire is on the Flathead National Forest along the west side of Hungry Horse Reservoir between Doris Creek and Lost Johnny Creek.
Forest officials estimated the size at 763 acres Wednesday morning. The fire, first detected July 30, is in a remote and rugged area, and no structures are threatened.
Winds spurred Tuesday's growth, with the fire perimeter spreading east toward the reservoir.
Fire managers are taking a “confine and contain” strategy on the incident that is now under the command of California Incident Management Team 4, which is also overseeing the nearby Ridge Fire along Hungry Horse Reservoir’s Emery Bay.
Tuesday’s hot and dry conditions also whipped up activity on the Ridge Fire.
There was no significant growth overnight and fire lines held strong, fire managers reported Wednesday morning. The fire was estimated at 3,249 acres with 14% containment.
The Hungry Horse Reservoir remained closed to all public access, including both the east and west side roads.
A fire weather watch remained in place through Thursday evening for the Flathead Valley and Glacier National Park. A heat advisory for the Flathead and Mission valleys was expected to expire by midnight Thursday.
A weather station at the Libby Dam registered a high of 102 on Tuesday, while Thompson Falls and Ronan hit 101.
Kalispell reached 97 on Tuesday, just shy of the record high of 98 set in 2021.
Missoula topped out at 103 degrees Tuesday evening, smashing the previous record high of 98 set in 2021.
