Changing weather sparks wildfire in Lower Yaak

The Cougar Ridge Fire in the lower Yaak is not remarkable, but it is illustrative of how quickly environmental conditions can change in this region.

The fire, located about one-half mile from the Yaak River Road, was detected just before dark Tuesday, Sept. 3. Less than 24 hours later, Kootenai National Forest fire crews had it contained.

Despite soaking rains that fell just two weeks ago on Friday, Aug. 23, hot, breezy conditions since then in south Lincoln County allowed what an area fire manager said were the accompanying lightning strikes from that weather front to become a small wildfire.

Three Rivers Ranger District Fire Management Officer Beau Macy said he was somewhat surprised the multitude of lightning strikes that hit the region didn’t produce more fires.

“The rain was very timely,” Macy said. “That weather, more rain than lightning, was abnormal from what we normally get. But that area is one of the drier ones in our district. It’s pretty arid for our area.”

The fire burned in a steep, brushy area at about 2,800 feet elevation. It’s part of the Forest Service’s proposed Knotty Pine Project. Work hasn’t begun due to litigation by various environmental groups. They argue new roads in the project area would make grizzly bears in the Cabinet-Yaak Ecosystem more vulnerable.

U.S. District Court judge Dana Christensen agreed in April 2023.

Macy said the hope is the project would begin at some point.

“The area hasn’t been cut for some time, it’s very brushy and there’s not much for wildlife in that area. It’s also an area where people live nearby and those are the areas we’re trying to thin to reduce the risk of a large fire.”

Macy pointed out the Old Highway 2 subdivision is only 1 1/2 miles to the west and the Yaak River Road with other human habitation is one-half mile to the east.

Macy said in a different year, with drier conditions, the fire could have posed a more significant risk. He also noted that continued hot and dry weather forecast for the next several days should keep people diligent about how they use fire, such as hunter’s campsites, or taking care when parking vehicles, smoking, cutting firewood.

“This year on this district we’ve had fewer human-caused fires, but we still urge folks recreating to be careful and make sure camp fires are thoroughly extinguished,” Macy said. “There’s quite a bit of available fuel out there.”

Montana’s archery deer and elk seasons begin Saturday. 

As for the Cougar Ridge Fire, a crew of about 15 firefighters worked the blaze along with a water tender, two Type 6 engines and an excavator.

The fire was above an old, Kelly-humped road that a man operating the excavator used to re-open so the water tender could get up the road.

A.J. Faur, a 2018 Troy High School graduate, is in his seventh season working fires with Three Rivers. He drove the water tender that carried about 3,500 gallons of water from the nearby Yaak River Campground.

“I soaked the Kelly-humped road after the excavator opened it up to firm the road up so it’s drivable,” Faur said.

The tender allowed other firefighters to lay hose around the fire’s perimeter after crews had dug a line.

Taylor Quinn was the fire boss at the scene. She graduated Libby High School 11 years ago and began working on fire crews right out of school. She became a full-time Forest Service employee a year ago.

“We got a hand line dug around it, now we’ll get some water on it,” Quinn said.

Macy said a helicopter wasn’t used on the fire because of it’s behavior.

“The fire’s behavior dictates how we approach it,” Macy said. “With it not being very aggressive, a copter wasn’t necessary. Any time you put one in the air it’s a risk and also very costly. Those are some of the considerations that go into those decisions.”

Macy also mentioned the cooperation from an Arkansas engine crew that’s spending the summer in the Kootenai.

“They come up here for our season and we send a crew down there for theirs in March and April before green up and trees leaf out,” Macy said.

    A.J. Faur, the operator of a U.S. Forest Service water tender, sprays water on a Kelly-humped road to stabilize it Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, on Cougar Ridge in the Kootenai National Forest. The road was cleared so fire crews and a water tender could travel up the road to battle a small wild fire. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
  

    Kootenai National Forest Three Rivers District firefighters carry hose up a Kelly-humped road Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, on Cougar Ridge to battle a small wild fire. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
  

    The operator of an excavator clears a Kelly-humped road Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, on Cougar Ridge in the Kootenai National Forest. The road was cleared so fire crews and a water tender could travel up the road to battle a small wild fire. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)