Residents near Rogers Mountain wildfire put on notice

Smoke from a wildfire east of Rogers Mountain, as well as several other wildfires in the area, could be seen in the sky across Northwest Montana by Sunday evening.

The Rogers Fire originated in the drainage area near Loon Lake in Lincoln County, pushed by wind toward the southeast. Officials believe the fire — one of several to develop in the area over the weekend — was caused by lightning Friday night.

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department Sunday afternoon notified residents north of U.S. 2 and Happy’s Inn about the advance of a wildfire aside Rogers Mountain, advising they be ready in case the fire worsened and began to threaten homes. Sunday evening, however, Lincoln County Sheriff Roby Bowe said the fire “has a long ways to go before anyone is in imminent danger.”

“There are several other fires in the area, but the Rogers Fire is the highest priority at this time,” Ali Ulwelling, spokesperson for the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, said Sunday afternoon.

By Sunday morning the fire had consumed 40 acres of timber, brush and grass situated on steep slopes and dried out by high temperatures and lack of moisture. By 8 p.m. Sunday it was estimated to be 50 acres in size, Ulwelling said.

Ulwelling said the fire made a push in the afternoon, moving south toward communities north of U.S. 2 and northwest of Happy’s Inn. The action prompted DNRC fire managers to recommend that the Sheriff’s Department issue pre-evacuation notices to residents.

The Sheriff’s Department decided not to go that route, which would have entailed reverse 911 calls in the first step taken toward full evacuation, should it be required. However, Bowe said the steps the department took in advising residents Sunday afternoon were essentially what happens during a formal pre-evacuation notice.

“The chances of anything happening the next few days is really slim,” Bowe said, acknowledging that conditions could always change depending upon weather and other factors. Single-engine air tankers worked the perimeter and attempted to slow the fire’s spread Sunday afternoon and heavy air tankers were ordered, Ulwelling said, adding that “demand for resources is high, but this has become a priority fire.”

Ulwelling said a Type II team has been ordered to manage the number of fires in the area and will arrive Monday morning.

Two single-engine air tankers are currently fighting the blaze, and a Type II helicopter, heavy air tankers and at least two scoopers have also been ordered.

OTHER FIRES in the area include one on Grubb Mountain, which was reported to have burned 11 acres by Sunday evening, and a series of smaller fires.

According to Ulwelling, smoke from the Lazier Creek Fire near Plains is now visible from Kalispell as well. That fire grew to more than 200 acres Sunday and is threatening structures around Bend.

Pre-evacuation notices have been recommended in that area as well.

“Pre-evacuation notice means that residents should prepare to evacuate,” said Ali Ulwelling, spokesperson for the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. “There are two stages in an evacuation, so the next step would be to evacuate.”