West Fork fire has not threatened former vermiculite mine site, officials say

The West Fork fire has not threatened the former vermiculite mine site in Libby — and if it or another wildfire ever does the county has a response plan in place, officials say.

Lincoln County and various state and federal agencies developed the Libby Asbestos Response Plan to outline how authorities shall respond to emeregncy incidents located within or near the site, according to a statement released Thursday afternoon by Lincoln County Public Health.

The agencies include the Forest Service, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality and Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, all of which “have participated in multiple planning efforts and exercises to prepare for incidents in this area,” the news release states.

“The agencies have spent months coordinating and planning for a wildfire in the former vermiculite mine site and we will continue to plan and practice for an actual event,” said Lincoln County Commissioner Mark Peck.

The plan calls for a unified source of public information in the event of an emergency and for air monitoring.