Garden Creek Fire continues to gain ground

The Garden Creek Fire tearing across tribal lands near Hot Springs gained over 500 acres on Friday for a total of nearly 2,600 acres.

Officials reported the use of every available air resource Friday in an attempt to secure the northern edge of the fire, where most of the growth occurred.

Containment remained at 10 percent.

Over 200 fire personnel continued to work through the heat Friday, using hose lines, heavy ground equipment and other resources to slow the fire’s spread.

In addition to the Stage 2 fire restriction enacted on Friday, a red flag warning was issued due to impending weather dangers in this weekend’s forecast.

The warning will remain in effect until Saturday evening.

Crews achieved small steps forward in containment of the 680-acre Ten Mile fire, reaching 22 percent containment.

Officials issued another red flag warning for the Kootenai National Forest, where multiple fires continued to burn. The warning began at noon Friday and will remain in effect until 9 p.m. on Saturday.

The remotely located Brownstone Fire burning in the Bob Marshall Wilderness reached over 1,000 acres with no reported containment from the 5-person crew on scene.

The fire continued to move through high elevation near Francois Creek with further spread expected as temperatures continue to climb.

Libby and Missoula joined the Flathead Valley with air quality declining to unhealthy for sensitive groups. Moderate to unhealthy smoke conditions are expected to persist until Saturday.

Reporter Mary Cloud Taylor can be reached at 758-4459 or mtaylor@dailyinterlake.com.