Area fire crews battle wild fire near Happy's Inn

State and local crews battled a wild fire Wednesday night and Thursday near Happy’s Inn.

The West Camp Fire was called in at about 7 p.m. Wednesday and burned about 13 acres in small, brushy timber and grass between West Camp Road and Klabo Drive.

Kelly May, Fire Management Officer for the Libby District of Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, said the fire was human caused. He also urged care when burning slash piles.

"Make sure, when burning slash piles, you monitor it until the fire is dead out and have supplies ready to extinguish the fire, such as a water hose, rakes and shovels."

The fire did threaten a number of residences, but fire officials said none were damaged. No injuries were reported either.

Dry conditions led Kootenai National Forest officials to raise the fire danger to moderate.

"Until we get full green-up, there is a lot of dead grass that's ready to burn," May said.

Thursday morning, firefighters from the Fisher River Valley Fire Rescue and Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, monitored what was left of the fire.

Ground conditions are relatively dry at lower to mid elevations. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, most of Lincoln County is rated as abnormally dry.

Overnight temperatures in the 20s helped in keeping the fire from spreading more widely. The National Weather Service is calling for daytime high temperatures in the mid 60s to low 70s with relative humidity from 32 to 40% and light winds out of the northeast in south Lincoln County.

There is a 30% chance of rain in the forecast for Sunday.

    Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation fire crews monitor the West Camp Fire near Happy's Inn on the morning of Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
  

    Smoke smolders from the West Camp Fire near Happy's Inn on the morning of Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)