Changing weather sparks wildfire in Lower Yaak
Kootenai National Forest Three Rivers District firefighters prepare to go up a Kelly-humped road Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, on Cougar Ridge. Crew members carried hose to help battle a small wild fire. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
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)
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.
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