Burnt Peak Fire expanding in dry, hot conditions

Aided by hot and dry weather, the Burnt Peak Fire, located roughly eight miles southwest of Troy, swelled to around 600 acres over the weekend.

Dan Rose, forest fire manager for Kootenai National Forest, said Monday morning that pilots put the fire at 583 acres using infrared mapping. With temperatures around 100 degrees, relative humidity in the single digits and winds strong enough to fan the flames, the fire grew from approximately 100 acres on Friday.

“In terms of weather, it's as serious fire weather as we see on the Kootenai,” said Rose.

U.S. Forest Service officials first reported the fire on the morning of July 7. Lightning started the blaze, according to Beau Macy, fire manager with the Three Rivers Ranger District. By the next day, the fire had reached around 50 acres and 40 firefighters were on scene.

As of Monday morning, Macy said around 77 to 80 firefighters were working to contain the blaze. Crews were concerned primarily with scouting roads and natural barriers that could be used to contain the fire and looking for opportunities to attack the fire directly.

The steep and rocky terrain in which the fire is burning has made it difficult for firefighters to contain.

Crews were using four engines, three water tenders, a skidgen, four masticators, a couple road brushers and three dozers on Monday morning. Three helicopters and an air attack plane were assisting ground crews.