Fires force evacuations, restrictions
As more than 100 wildland fires burn across the state of Montana, officials of the Kootenai National Forest have upgraded fire restrictions to Stage 2 and residents of the Bull River Valley in Sanders County have been evacuated from their homes.
The evacuations were ordered in the area of Highway 56 yesterday, between mile marker eight and mile marker 14. A Type III incident management team has been managing the fires in the are, but it is expected that a Type II team will assume command of the incident Thursday evening.
“Successful evacuations were completed yesterday on Highway 56 between mile marker eight and mile marker 14,” Forest Service spokesman Willie Sykes wrote in a Thursday press release. “The local Type III team continues to work with the Sanders County Sheriff’s Office to ensure that adjacent property owners are prepared to evacuate if necessary. A Type II team will assume management of fires in the Bull River area this evening.”
Stage 2 restrictions ban all open burning, including campfires, and restrict vehicles to designated roads and trails.
In addition, equipment operation involving internal combustion engines such as chain saws is prohibited from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m.
The restrictions apply to any lands outside designated city limits, regardless of ownership. The restrictions will remain in effect until there is a significant long-term change in fire danger.
Fire danger currently is extreme and six wildfires have covered more than 1,000 acres each.
The jurisdictions affected by the restrictions include: Flathead National Forest, Kootenai National Forest, • Bob Marshall Wilderness lands within the Flathead National Forest, Glacier National Park, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Montana Department of Natural Resources Northwestern Land Office, Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks Region 1 and the Flathead, Lake (outside of Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal land), Lincoln and Sanders counties.
Specifically, Stage 2 restrictions prohibit any open burning, including campfires;
Allow smoking only in areas cleared of all flammable materials; restrict motorized vehicles to designated roads and trails; prohibit from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. operating an internal combustion engine and blasting, welding, or other activities that generate flame or flammable material. A patrol is required for one hour following cessation of all such work; exempt fires fueled solely by liquid petroleum or other activities for which there is a permit or written authorization.
According to the Northern Rockies Coordinating Group, which announced the restrictions, the smallest spark has the potential to cause significant damage, so always crush smokes dead out; never leave a campfire unattended; ensure that your vehicle has a properly installed spark arrester that is operational; stop and park only in areas clear of vegetation; and observe all fire restrictions.
People should carry shovel, buckets and fire extinguishers. Cross country travel is not allowed on most federal and state lands.
There are three active fires in the Troy Ranger District, with the Sawtooth Mountain fire being the most significant. The fire has grown to 500 acres and will be transferred to the Type II team taking over the Napoleon fire as of Thursday evening. The Teepee Mountain fire has grown to 125 acres, with firefighters continuing to work toward suppression and containment. The Cylcone fire is contained, but still active and under observation.
In the Libby Ranger District there are two active fires, at Midas Creek and Klatawa. The Klatawa fire is reportedly growing, but not rapidly. Midas Creek was expected to be under control by Thursday evening, but an update was not available as of press time. The Blue Mountain fires are reportedly completely contained and under control.
The Libby office of the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation has four fires listed in its protection. The Dunn fire is listed as 100 percent contained and the Fisher River fire is being mopped up by fire crews. Fire line construction is reported complete on the Silver Butte fire.
The Western News will continue to provide updates online and in print as new information becomes available.