Flathead Forest fire updates
Lightning strikes over the past weekend ignited several new fires across the Flathead National Forest.
The Rapid Creek Fire in the Bob Marshall Wilderness was first spotted on Sunday afternoon at about one quarter of an acre but quickly grew in size with wind, topography and available fuels.
By Monday afternoon, it had joined the Elbow Pass Fire and, along with the nearby Triple Divide Fire, became the Elbow Pass Complex. Altogether, the three fires covered 7,525 acres by Thursday afternoon.
On Tuesday, the fire moved east across Straight Creek and was edging up Wood Creek Hogback west of Benchmark Road.
On Wednesday, the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff's Office issued an evacuation order for the Benchmark Road corridor. For more information, call 406-447-1605.
About 124 people were assigned to the Elbow Pass Fire Complex. Three helicopters worked into the evening on Wednesday, dropping water on fire spots along the east slope of the Wood Creek Hogback and Patrol Ridge.
On Thursday, aircraft assessed the feasibility of placing crews in those areas to continue working on hot spots, hoping to keep the fire from moving further into the Benchmark corridor. Crews are also doing mop-up work in the vicinity of the Green Fork Cabin, and will be evaluating protection needs for the Welcome Creek Cabin.
Smoke from the Rapid Creek Fire was visible from the Flathead Valley over the weekend as it climbed toward the Continental Divide.
Some trails in the area of the fire were closed, including Rapid Creek Trail No. 139 and Observation Pass Trail No. 246. See the accompanying story for more on trail closures.
Other fires include:
• On Monday, July 30, a new fire was detected in the Bob Marshall Wilderness northwest of the Rapid Creek Fire. The Prisoner Lake Fire, about 25 miles east of Condon, was estimated to cover 175 acres. By Wednesday afternoon, the fire covered 3,024 acres, but growth slowed after that.
The Prisoner Lake Fire was burning in very steep and rocky terrain at high elevations, and natural barriers were helping to contain it. Helicopter water drops were planned for Wednesday afternoon. Some trail closures were in effect. Fifteen people were assigned to the fire.
Trails closed due to the Prisoner Lake Fire include Trail 138 Molly Creek Trail, from the junction with the White River Trail 112 to White River Pass; Trail #380 South Fork of White River, from the junction with Trail 138 to its end; Trail 626 Haystack Mountain, from the junction with Trail 138 to Haystack Mountain; and Trail 211 Indian Creek, from White River Pass to the junction with Trail 203, West Fork of the South Fork Sun River.
• Another new fire was detected on Tuesday, July 31, the Bar Creek Fire, about 35 miles east of Condon in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. As of Thursday afternoon, it covered 300 acres and was burning in a northward direction in dead lodgepole stands.
Structure protection measures, including wrapping cabins with fire-resistant material and placing sprinklers around cabins, was underway to protect the Danaher and Basin administrative cabins. Three personnel were assigned to Danaher Cabin and four were at the Basin Cabin. Bar Creek Trail No. 140 was closed to Observation Point.
• Coal Creek Fire, 3 acres, southwest of Cyclone Lake in the North Fork, 16 firefighters were doing mop-up work on Tuesday afternoon.
• The Condon Mountain Fire started out as the Union Peak Fire. It was first spotted Monday at half an acre in size about four miles northeast of Condon. It was estimated at 15 acres on Thursday afternoon, burning on steep rocky terrain.
Two helicopters were dropping water, and three 20-man hand crews with some heavy equipment were at the site building fire lines An incident command was established at the Condon Work Center. The Smith-Little Salmon Trail No. 29 was closed in parts.
• Pentagon Fire, 3 acres, in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, 13 firefighters doing initial attack with helicopter support.
• Gunsight Rock Fire, a spot fire detected on Wednesday about 12 miles northeast of the Spotted Bear Ranger Station. Three fire personnel were at the site. No trail closures yet.
For more information on fires, visit online at http://inciweb.org. For more information about trail closures, visit online at www.fs.usda.gov/detail/flathead/news-events/?cid=STELPRDB5383372.