Wildfire closes Montana 28 west of Elmo

At least three new fires were sparked in the Mission Valley on Sunday following the passage of a dry lightning storm.

Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes fire managers said Montana 28 was closed Sunday afternoon after the Niarada Fire jumped the highway. The blaze was estimated at 200 acres Sunday evening, about 11 miles west of Elmo. Commuters were advised of long delays on the highway.

Eighteen smokejumpers were managing the fire that was burning in steep terrain. Four single-engine air tankers, one helicopter for air support, three fire boss single-engine air tankers also responded.

Meanwhile, the Middle Ridge Fire southwest of Sloan’s Bridge was estimated at 500 acres. It was burning in grass and timber in steep terrain.

North of Dixon, the Communication Butte Fire was sized at 255 acres. Twenty firefighters had responded. The Bison Range was closed due to the fire.

CSKT fire managers said no structures were threatened by any of the fires.

Numerous other small fires cropped up Sunday in Lake and Flathead counties.

The Woodward Point and Porcupine Creek fires were detected in the Mission Mountains on the east side of Flathead Lake. Both were initially estimated at less than 2 acres in size.

Along Hungry Horse Reservoir, the Ridge Fire was sized at 5 acres and the Emery Fire was less than an acre. Farther down the reservoir, the Logan Creek and Elam fires were each less than an acre.

The Kah Mountain Fire in the Swan Mountains was 15 acres.

A red flag warning was forecast for Sunday evening with wind gusts and low humidity expected.