Crews get line around Ransome Creek Fire
The Ransome Creek Fire burns on the evening of Aug. 26, 2025, northwest of Libby. Fire crews recently got containment on the nearly 600-acre blaze. (Photo courtesy Kootenai National Forest employee)
Crews working the Ransome Creek Fire have achieved containment on the blaze that’s been burning for nearly two weeks.
According to fire officials, the lightning-caused fire, located in the Quartz Creek drainage 11 miles northwest of Libby, is 15% contained and the fire perimeter is entirely surrounded by heavy equipment line, both directly and indirectly, as terrain conditions allow.
Crews are trying to establish direct fire lines as much as possible, while minimizing the risk to firefighters from hazardous snags. Aerial resources continue to heavily support firefighters on the ground, utilizing bucket drops to address hot spots, especially in areas with a high density of snags.
Hot, dry conditions allowed the fire to experience a slight increase in fire activity over the last several days and it now stands at 557 acres.
U.S. Forest Service’s Ray Flanagan is the Incident Commander and he is working with USFS trainee Pete Jacobson.
The number of personnel working the fire is 181. There are two engines, four dozers, three excavators, two masticators, seven water tenders, three skidgines. There are four crews including hotshots and two 20-person hand crews.
The road closure order remains in effect for roads in the vicinity of the Ransome Fire, specifically in the Pipe Bull Creek area, Lindy Peak area and Little Tom Mountain area.
The purpose of the order is for public and firefighter safety due to wildfire activity and prohibits all methods of travel. For detailed text and map of the closure, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/r01/kootenai/alerts/ransome-fire-road-closure.
Also, a Temporary Flight Restriction is in place that restricts all aircraft (including drones) from operating in the fire area without permission.
Fire crews have also been very busy with several smaller fires that have popped up over the last few days following a storm that moved through the region Friday evening.
Most are listed as controlled or contained.
Firefighters also got containment on the 9.6-acre Cub Creek Fire that’s located 12 miles southwest of Trout Creek in the Cabinet Ranger District.
For the South Meadow Fire, located northwest of Sylvanite near the Idaho border, it has burned 62 acres. As of Aug. 25, it had 30% containment.
Crews continued to reinforce fire line, hose lays and establish more fire line along the edge.
Aug. 26, command of the fire transitioned from the Type 3 Incident Management Team back to the local Three Rivers Ranger District and Type 4 Incident Commander.