Officials: Smoke not indicative of new fire threat

This past weekend saw an increase in the amount of smoke rising from fires still burning in the Kootenai National Forest, but officials say the renewed fires do not pose the same level of threat as they did back in August.

Kootenai National Forest resource officer Quinn Carver said the fires inside the perimeters have flared back up due to the recent warm afternoons and sunny conditions, but are not threatening homes or other structures.

“The high-risk period is over,” Carver said. “The smoke is coming from burns inside the perimeter, just cleaning up those heavy fuels.”

Carver said forest officials are continuing to monitor the fires closely and had flights scheduled over the burning areas Monday afternoon, although the results of those fly-overs were not available as of press time.

The primary risk from the recent warming trend and flare-ups comes from the marked decrease in air quality. The Montana Department of Environmental Quality reported Friday the air in Libby is “unhealthy.” In such periods, the department advises active people and people with respiratory conditions to avoid prolonged outdoor exertion. Other people, especially children, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.

On the other side of the Goat Rock Complex the air conditions are better, with reports of unhealthy air for sensitive populations at the monitoring station in Thompson Falls and good air reports at all other reporting locations in the area.

In Friday’s report, the department noted an incoming cold front, which is expected to increase mixing and dispersion in the air, helping to improve conditions in the area.

Carver said he expects the situation to continue until the onset of winter.

“It’s going to be a long fall and we’re going to see a lot of smoke,” he said. “The heavy fuels inside the perimeter are still burning, but to my knowledge the edges are still holding. We’re just going to need some help from Ma Nature to put these things out.”