Essex prepares for evacuation

There is a good possibility the Sheep Fire burning 2 miles south of Essex will reach U.S. 2 late Thursday if the forecast for gusty winds holds true, Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry advised the county commissioners Thursday morning.

If the fire reaches the highway, it would shut down U.S. 2 in that area, he said.

Curry updated the commissioners prior to their unanimous adoption of Stage 2 fire restrictions with exemptions for farming and other activities such as construction work.

Law enforcement personnel are going door-to-door in the Essex area, alerting residents of the pre-evacuation notice. Curry said that as of Thursday morning a little more than half of the residents had been contacted.

Curry also said BNSF Railway Co. is “working hard to mitigate” the fire potential for its railroad facilities in the Essex area, including a storage shed containing creosote-covered railroad ties.

BNSF crews are working on structure protection of the shed as well as railroad trestles.

Curry was in Essex at midnight Wednesday and said flames could be seen along the ridge to the south. Fire resources from the Thompson and Granite fires have been pulled away to assist with the firefighting effort on the Sheep Fire, which had covered 93 acres by Wednesday night.