Wildfire near Swede Mountain

Smoke pours from the Swede Creek Fire in Lincoln County. (U.S. Forest Service photo)

An aerial view of the Swede fire taken in the late afternoon of Aug. 19. The cause remains under investigation, but officials said they had ruled out lightning. (Photo courtesy AA92T)

| August 21, 2020 8:39 AM

U.S. Forest Service crews are battling a roughly 25-acre wildfire in the Williams Gulch and Swede Mountain area.

Authorities responded to the scene after an air attack crew spotted smoke about 3:30 p.m., Aug. 19. By the day’s end, the Forest Service had about 25 firefighters on scene using engine modules, dozers, a helicopter, an air attack and two single engine air tankers to battle the blaze.

In a release posted to Facebook, officials said they employed aircraft to deliver retardent and perform water drops.

Dan Rose, forest fire management officer for the Kootenai National Forest, said early efforts went into creating a fire line. Rose expected it to be complete by the afternoon of Aug. 20. Crews also were making hose lines, he said.

He described the fire as “low risk at this point in terms of the impact to our local communities.”

Officials have put barricades up on Road 533 and asked residents to avoid the area.

While the cause of the blaze remains under investigation, Rose said officials have so far ruled out lightning.

He said efforts to contain the blaze were going well.

An aerial view of the Swede fire taken in the late afternoon of Aug. 19. The cause remains under investigation, but officials said they had ruled out lightning. (Photo courtesy AA92T)