Fire crews beginning to get handle on Ramsome Creek Fire

Lincoln County’s largest wildfire in the last two years has charred 300 acres northwest of Libby in the Quartz Creek and Bobtail Ridge area.

The Ransome Creek Fire, which Kootenai National Forest officials are saying was caused by lightning, was reported at about 7 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 21. Much of the fire was burning in the area of the 2018 West Fork Fire that burned more than 20,000 acres and led to some area evacuations.

The fire is listed at 0% containment. While there are no current evacuations ordered, Kootenai National Forest Supervisor Chad Benson issued closure orders Friday for National Forest System Roads in the Pipe Bull Creek area, Lindy Peak area and Little Tom Mountain area.

Fire officials said the purpose of the order is for public and firefighter safety due to wildfire activity and prohibits all methods of travel, including foot, mechanized, motorized and stock animals.

The closure includes National Forest System Roads in the Pipe Bull Creek area; specifically NFSR 4614, Lindy Peak area roads; specifically NFSR 6146, NFSR 6144, NFSR 6704, NFSR 6145; Little Tom Mountain area roads; specifically NFSR 4604 and NFSR 332.

In addition to the fire and the steep terrain, which includes countless snags, fire fighters are battling hot temperatures in the mid to upper 90s. The National Weather Service forecast calls for hot weather this week with daytime highs in the upper 80s and 90s. There is a slight chance of showers or a thunderstorm Thursday and Friday.

A local Type 3 Incident Management team took over the fire Saturday and there are now 65 personnel currently assigned to it. Resources include aerial support, a 20-person hand crew, and heavy equipment, many of which are local contractors, including dozers, excavators, masticators, skidgines and water tenders. The fire also continues to be heavily supported by local Libby Ranger District crews and employees.

According to fire officials, crews reinforced the constructed fire lines Saturday as the fire experienced active fire behavior and moderate growth, mainly progressing upslope and to the north. Firefighters also worked on establishing more access points to continue the progression of fire line around the fire perimeter, while safely navigating the steep terrain and hazardous snags.

Fire officials said aerial resources were utilized Sunday for multiple retardant drops to help slow fire growth while ground crews made more progress on fire line construction and gained better access points for heavy equipment. While the fire is still 0% contained, resources are making good progress on tying established containment lines together as the steep terrain allows.

    Smoke pours off the Ransome Creek Fire on the afternoon of Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025, as it burns through the remains of the 2017 West Fork Fire in the Quartz Creek/Bobtail Ridge area. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
  

    A spotter plane flies over the Ransome Creek Fire on the afternoon of Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025, in the Quartz Creek/Bobtail Ridge area. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)