Crews battle wildfires as rainy weather descends on region

With the River Road East Fire outside of Paradise growing to more than 16,000 acres over the weekend, officials implemented a temporary flight restriction in the skies above the blaze on Monday.

Fire crews’ efforts on Aug. 21 focused on securing and mopping up control lines established to protect buildings around the unincorporated community in Sanders County as well as the Montana 200 corridor. They also planned on strengthening control lines north and south of the Clark Fork River as the fire spread northward on both sides of the waterway.

According to the Sanders County Sheriff’s Office, Paradise remained on pre-evacuation status as was Henry Creek Road, Camas Prairie, Quinn’s Hot Spring Resort and Camp Bighorn. Authorities have closed McLaughlin Creek Road and placed it under evacuation status. Officials urged non-residents against driving either River Road East or Henry Creek Road and asked that residents limit trips on either roadway.

The Montana Red Cross opened a shelter at the Church on the Move, 300 Clayton St., Plains, last week.

Crews were to spend Monday looking for opportunities to erect indirect and direct lines on the north and east sections of the fire. Firefighters also scouted the southwest portion of the wildfire for access routes and possible indirect control line locations.

Northern Rockies Team 1, commanded by Brent Olson, took over the response to the blaze on Aug. 19. About 370 people are working the wildfire, which remains 0% contained. Officials are still working on a long-term plan to contain the fire.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks on Monday temporarily closed portions of the Flathead and Clark Fork rivers in Sanders County due to the fire. The Flathead is closed from the Flathead Indian Reservation boundary downstream to the confluence of the Clark Fork River. The Clark Fork is closed from the Montana 135 bridge at Ferry Landing downstream to the Clark For River bridge in Plains.

The Kookoosint Fishing Access Site, Paradise Crossing Fishing Access Site, and Full Curl Wildlife Management Area south of Plains on Montana 200 are also all closed.

AT THE East Fork Fire west of Olney, crews waited on the expected precipitation from the remnants of Hurricane Hilary.

The lightning-caused fire burning in heavy timber and difficult terrain on the Flathead and Kootenai national forests remained at 4,614 acres as of Monday morning. Officials anticipated upwards of an inch of rain in the coming 36 hours, but described it as a “season-slowing” rather than season-ending weather event.

Forecasters with the National Weather Service are calling for rain through to Wednesday with the possibility of thunderstorms on Tuesday. Much of Northwest Montana was under a flood watch Monday afternoon.

Crews were expected to search for opportunities to construct fire lines closer to the blaze and extinguish hotspots.

A public meeting on the fire is planned for 7:30 p.m., Aug. 22 at the Olney-Bissell School, 5955 Farm to Market Road. The Flathead County Sheriff’s Office lifted evacuation orders near Olney and Stryker on Sunday and placed the area on pre-evacuation status.

The East Fork Fire is 5% contained, officials said.

THE RIDGE Fire near the Hungry Horse Reservoir grew slightly to 3,651 acres by Monday. Crews expected to spend the day conducting mop up work and building control lines to the north and east of the blaze. The fire is 39% contained.

The Hungry Horse Reservoir remains closed to the public. Residents located between the east side of Spotted Bear Road to West Glacier are under pre-evacuation notice. The Columbia Falls Junior High School at 1805 Talbot Road remains in use as an emergency shelter for those affected by the Ridge Fire.

Authorities ask that anyone planning on availing themselves of the shelter to call ahead at 800-733-2767.

The nearby Doris Point fire reached 1,534 acres in size by Monday and was 0% contained. Crews there expected to continue focusing on fuel reduction and structure prep on Aug. 21 while setting up pump sprinklers.

Firefighters are taking a similar approach to the Tin Soldier Fire, which has reached 7,697 acres and is 0% contained.