Wildfire season has arrived as fire danger ratings are increasing in national forests and wildlands throughout Montana. The Kootenai National Forest moved to "very high" Wednesday, and the Bitterroot National Forest switched to "high" fire danger this morning following the discovery of two lightning-caused fires Tuesday. The Flathead National Forest and surrounding area has also moved their fire danger to “high” this week.
Reynolds Lake Fire - Bitterroot National Forest
One of two lightning-caused fires discovered in the Bitterroot National Forest Tuesday is growing rapidly. The Reynolds Lake fire is zero percent contained says Forest Spokesman Tod McKay.
“We had contained the fire, or at least kept it from growing much larger yesterday. This morning it was estimated at about 11 acres. Unfortunately this afternoon the winds that were predicted have picked up over that fire and it’s grown substantially this afternoon.”
There’s still no official estimate on the current size of the fire in the Bitterroot’s West Fork Ranger District close to the Idaho state line. McKay says he expects it is in the multi-hundreds of acres.
“We’ve also called in a VLAT, which stands for Very large Air Tanker and it’s capable of dropping about 12,000 gallons of fire retardant.”
VLATs are modified DC-10s. More than 50 firefighters have been dispatched to the fire. Two helicopters and two additional air tankers are also working the fire.
A second fire discovered in the Bitterroot Tuesday a mile west of the Magruder Ranger Station was contained at a tenth of an acre, and is now reported out.
Zulu Fire - Kootenai National Forest
Fire danger bumped up to “very high” on the Kootenai National Forest Wednesday. Crews are holding the Zulu Fire, burning about 23 miles north of Libby, to 20 acres.
About 80 firefighters are working the blaze with help from multiple aircraft dropping retardant. A Type 3 team from the Kootenai National Forest took control of the fire Wednesday morning. There is no estimate or timeline for containment.
Willie Sykes is spokesperson for the Kootenai National Forest.
"Especially with the warm and hot, dry weather conditions, the conditions are ripe for for more of a fire season later on."
Sykes says two firefighters from the state Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and the Flathead National Forest were treated for heat exhaustion and pre-existing cardiac issues Tuesday night. Both were evaluated at the hospital and released.
The Zulu Fire was initially reported Sundayand is believed to be caused by lightning. It’s the first significant burn in Montana of the season.
The National Interagency Coordination Center pegs fire potential as “above normal” in northwest Montana through July. Central and eastern Montana are expected to follow suit in August and September.
Mussellshell-Yellowstone County Fires
In eastern Montana, several fires are reported to have crews actively working to contain them. Along the Musselshell and Yellowstone county border, the Sando Fire has reportedly burned around 130 acres after it was discovered yesterday afternoon. The Keller Weldorn Road fire east of Billings has burned roughly 120 acres.
The Musselshell County Disaster & Emergency Services is urging residents to report any sightings of smoke to local dispatch while temperatures remain high.
Upriver Beacon Fire
The Spokesman-Review reported Wednesday that firefighters have built a line completely around the fire that destroyed a home and burned 115 acres Tuesday near Spokane Valley, Washington. All mandatory evacuations have been lifted.
Authorities say the so-called Upriver Beacon Fire that prompted evacuation notices for 700 homes near Spokane Valley began in a building and then spread to grass and trees.
The state Department of Natural Resources has been helping fight the fire with water drops from a tanker plane, and more state firefighting teams have been arriving after Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste approved their mobilization Tuesday night.
Oregon’s governor invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act in response to the fire early Wednesday. The action allows the Oregon fire marshal to mobilize resources from around the state to protect homes.
