Seeley-Swan wildfire doubles in size
Two water scoopers assist with firefighting efforts on the Colt Fire northeast of Seeley Lake. (InciWeb photo)
A wildfire burning northeast of Seeley Lake doubled in size Monday as critical fire weather blasted the region.
The Colt Fire had burned 4,390 acres on the Lolo National Forest, according to size estimates Tuesday morning.
A dry cold front moved across the area Monday afternoon, causing wind gusts over 20 mph and ramping up fire activity, fire officials reported.
More than 400 firefighters were assigned to the lightning-caused incident, under the command of Brent Olson’s Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 1.
A cool down was expected Tuesday, with temperatures in the 70s and higher humidity levels.
Montana 83 remained open to traffic, however the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office issued an evacuation order for residences along Montana 83 between mile marker 31 south toward Seeley Lake to mile marker 27.
A public meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 25 at 7 p.m. at Seeley Lake Elementary School.
A NEW wildfire cropped up Monday evening on the Flathead Reservation just east of Arlee.
As of Tuesday, the lightning-caused Big Knife Fire had burned 116 acres in steep and rugged terrain.
Ten smokejumpers from Missoula were on the scene, with assistance from helicopters and single-engine tankers.
Canal Road from Mountain Home to the Jocko Canyon was closed. No structures were threatened and no evacuations were ordered.
A SMALL fire was detected Monday evening on the east side of Glacier National Park. The fire was less than half an acre in size on the lower flank of Going-to-the-Sun Mountain east of St. Mary Lake, just north of Going-to-the-Sun Road. Glacier Park resources were assigned to the area.
Also on Monday, a 1-acre blaze was contained just northeast of Polebridge, and a half-acre fire was spotted on Doris Ridge in the Swan Range.