Local crews tackle six new Kootenai wild fires
Lightning on Friday, Aug. 23, caused a very small fire on Ibex Peak in the Cabinet Ranger District in the Cabinet Mountains Wildnerness. (Kootenai National Forest photo)
While last Friday’s heavy rain was very beneficial, the associated lightning strikes did spark several fires on the Kootenai National Forest.
According to forest officials, six new fires started since last Friday and all were either staffed with resources or in contained or controlled status.
The OU3 Tub Fire, on the Libby Ranger District, occurred in the Operable Unit 3 superfund site area. Resources were able to contain the fire at one-quarter of an acre.
Swede Mountain’s 538 Fire was listed at controlled after burning one-tenth of an acre. The Lake Creek Fire, south of Libby, was controlled after burning one-tenth of an acre.
The Gold Creek Fire, north of Libby, was extinguished after one-tenth of an acre.
The Fritz Fire, located northwest of Happy’s Inn, burned one-tenth of an acre before being listed as controlled.
The Tony Peak Fire, southeast of Libby, also burned one-tenth of an acre before being declared contained.
The Blue Creek Fire in the Fatman area near Noxon was controlled after burning one-quarter of an acre.
Also, a lightning strike started a fire just inside the Cabinet Mountain Wilderness on the west face of Ibex peak. The fire was located and examined by air on the afternoon of Saturday, Aug. 24.
The Ibex Peak Fire is currently burning in a single tree at an elevation of 5,700 feet. This fire is visible for the residents on the southern end of Bull Lake, forest visitors and those travelling along the Highway 56 corridor.
Aerial reconnaissance has found the fire burning in very steep, inaccessible rocky terrain with limited opportunities to access the fire. Fire personnel assessed it, surrounding landscape and forecasted weather to develop a suppression strategy for the the Ibex Fire, while properly managing the risk to fire fighters and other suppression assets.
According to the National Weather Service, there is a 30% chance of rain Tuesday afternoon. Winds are expected to increase to 9 to 14 miles per hour with gusts as high as 30 mph.