Fire tab reaches $41 million

By CHRIS PETERSON

Hungry Horse News

Fires continue to cook across Northwest Montana, but Glacier National Park has been spared so far this season and save for a few trails near Marias Pass, is completely open.

There are fire restrictions still in place. That means campfires of any sort are prohibited as is smoking outside a vehicle. The main concern in Glacier is smoke — on days when inversions strike, the smoke is as thick as fog. Monday was a particularly smoky day here, as fires from both west of town and Idaho filled the valley.

This week promises to be a trying one on fire lines, as temperatures are expected to be in the 80s and 90s with high winds, particularly today (Thursday), fire managers are saying. High winds are expected with the potential for thunderstorms and dry lightning.

The price tag for fighting these fires continues to rise well into the millions. As of press time, the approximate cost of fires burning across Northwest Montana was about $41 million and had they had burned about 243,000 acres.

Here's a look at the blazes in and around the area.

? The Skyland Fire: South of Glacier Park south of Marias Pass, the Skyland Fire has burned 40,485 acres and is listed at 59 percent contained and was caused by lightning. There are 19 crews, five helicopters, one dozer, 12 water tenders and 25 engines on the fire. U.S. Highway 2 remains open with speed restrictions. This fire and other fires near or in the Bob Marshall Wilderness have closed the entire east side and south ends of the wilderness complex.

Homes north of the blaze are still under a preparation for an evacuation notice. Cost to date: $11 million.

? Brush Creek Fire: Containment lines were completely built around the fire, though there was some spotting Sunday near Dunsire Point and crews were trying to mop that up. Homes in the Star Meadows area are still under an evacuation notice. There are 546 personnel on the fire and the cost is about $5.6 million and it is just under 27,000 acres. The fire is located about 27 miles west of Whitefish.

? Chippy Creek: The largest fire in the region, the Chippy Creek Fire southwest of Kalispell, has been taken over by a Type I team headed up by Wally Bennett. It was listed at 66,785 acres as of Tuesday with a cost of $5.275 million. Crews were working on containment lines on the northeast and northwest corners as well as reinforcing dozer lines with explosives. The fire is also backing down to the Little Thompson River as well as Big Rock Creek. The fire still threatens homes in the Niarada area as well as Hubbart Reservoir.

? Jocko Lakes: This fire continues to cause worry and concern for the Seeley Lake area, renewing evacuation orders Monday night. On Monday, spot fires near the Eagle Point subdivision had structure protection crews foaming homes in the area. No homes were lost. The fire is listed at 21,270 acres, with 815 personnel. It is burning very close to the town of Seeley Lake. Cost is about $7 million to date.

? Ahorn Fire: 44,181 acres, 6 percent contained, with four crews, six helicopters, 18 engines, 12 water tenders and a crew of 325. Smoke from Idaho fires has shaded this fire, making growth moderate. This fire threatens the Benchmark and Gibson Reservoir areas. The fire cost to date is listed at $9.1 million.

? Fool Creek Fire: Located 30 miles west of Choteau, the fire is listed at 32,608 acres and has 137 personnel. It is zero percent contained — burning in the Flathead National Forest and the Lewis and Clark National Forest in and out of the Bob Marshall Wilderness. Cost to date is about $2.7 million. Tuesday night it burned beyond the Teton Mountain Ski Resort.

? Railley Mountain Fire, Falls Creek Fire: The Railley Mountain Fire is 3,158 acres and in the upper Youngs Creek drainage of the Bob Marshall Wilderness. This fire has closed the south end of the Bob and is moving north. Cost is about $12,500. There are also other fires in the Bob Marshall, including the Amphitheater Fire in the upper White River drainage, which has caused the closure of the White River Trail from Needle Falls north to the Helen Creek Trail. The Corporal Fire is five acres near Corporal Mountain and Harrison Creek south of the Spotted Bear Lookout. The Conger Fire 20 miles north of Ovando is burning in the Dry Fork and North Fork of the Blackfoot drainages. It is listed at 7,850 acres. Conger has cost $368,000.