Fire efforts ramp up as 'dynamic' weather approaches

Sunday’s forecasted rain and colder temperatures can’t get here soon enough for crews battling wildfires in Northwest Montana.

Two new fires were discovered in the region Thursday, including one in Glacier National Park.

While there a slight chance of rain is forecasted for Saturday, the best opportunity for rain is forecasted for Sunday and Monday.

But before that, a weak, dry cold front passing through the area Friday could result in scattered, dry thunderstorms in the region. The impact of the thunderstorms would be lightning strikes with no rain and strong winds.

According to information from Inciweb, the Howe Ridge Fire was at 10,802 acres, but firefighters made excellent progress reinforcing existing trail systems and roads and consider the fire containment lines to be prepped and ready if the fire reaches them.

Friday was predicted to be a “dynamic” weather day for the Howe Ridge Fire, with gusty winds expected as a cold front moved through the area, with possible thunderstorms in the northern portions of Glacier National Park.

Yesterday, aerial resources continued to control spot fires with bucket drops in the Camas Drainage area. Aerial ignition was used to create a uniform fire edge and to control direction of the fire’s spread as it approached the sprinkler-reinforced trail systems at the north end of the fire, in order to protect the Going-to-the-Sun Road.

The fire continued to burn in sparse fuels on the ridges of Mt. Stanton and south slopes of Mt. Vaught on the north end of the fire. A sprinkler system on the Upper McDonald Creek trails was in place to serve as a fire line, should the fire move downslope toward the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Crews worked to protect the Trail of the Cedars and other facilities at the Avalanche Creek Campground in the event the fire reached that area. The southwest edge of the fire continued to back towards the Inside North Fork Road. Firefighters and heavy equipment were used to remove dead trees and brush to prepare the road to serve as a fire break. Structure protection was in place in the Fish Creek Campground.

Two wildfires burning on the Kootenai National Forest grew overnight Thursday, including the Gold Hill Fire, 13 miles north of Libby, which grew from 1,900 acres to a little more than 2,830 with 1 percent contained.

There were no current evacuation orders and the fire’s north edge was still one mile from the few residences located there.

The Davis Fire grew nearly 200 acres overnight Thursday to reach 6,561 with 13 percent containment.

There were 210 firefighters on the job as the fire burned in larch, subalpine fir and spruce trees,

Two masticators, two log trucks, and a tracked log loader were added to the heavy equipment task forces.

Firefighters located numerous small spot fires south of existing hand and dozer lines along the southern fire perimeter. However, they were able to quickly contain those spots. Although smoke was still dense in places, two helicopters, one assigned to the fire and one committed from the Forest Service, were able to perform numerous bucket drops, which helped to cool hotspots and slow spread along the southwestern and eastern flanks of the fire.

Heavy equipment operators continued work on the indirect line just east of the fire perimeter, as well as on the contingency line, working along Forest Service Road 5886. Structure protection specialists completed structure assessments along the Yaak River corridor.

As necessary and when conditions allow, fire managers will order aircraft to make water drops by helicopters or retardant drops by single engine air tankers to help cool hot spots and slow the spread.

If the fire spreads, it could threaten the Northwest Peak Lookout, Garver Mountain Lookout, white bark pine protection area and a SNOTEL site.

On the Flathead National Forest, the Paola Ridge Fire grew slightly overnight Thursday from 578 to 598 acres.

Helicopters did bucket drops on the the northeastern side of the fire along Paola Ridge. Fire continued to flank along the BNSF Railway tracks on the prepped line. It is also slowly backed down the southeastern aspect of Paola Ridge and near a dry creek, with the possibility of moving up slope on the other side Friday.

Although the creek was dry, vegetation along it remained green and less likely to burn. The fire was expected to continue backing down on the north side toward Paola Creek as well as on the southeast and northeast aspects. Fire growth on the northeastern aspect was likely due to warmer and drier conditions, as well as strong downcanyon winds.

A resource task force has been mobilized to allow for the flexibility to utilize burn-out operations, if necessary, along the eastern edge of fire to connect to the prepared fire line. Firefighters planned to continue using indirect strategies and point protection to keep fire west of the BNSF railway and the U.S. 2 corridor, and to provide structure protection measures for the communities of Essex, Pinnacle and structures along the highway.

The Whale Butte Fire, 10 miles northwest of Polebridge, stayed at 327 acres. The evacuation warning for landowners and visitors for all park areas north of the junction of Bowman Lake Road and the Inside North Fork Road remained in effect.

There was some fire activity along the southern area of the fire Thursday. In the late afternoon and evening, the fire burned with low intensity and single-tree torching toward Center Mountain Road 1672 road.

A helicopter was used to slow the spread of a spot fire between Whale Butte and Center Mountain, but it could slowly grow to the east and northeast. Structure protection groups continued to keep a presence in the area to protect homes if the fire activity picked up.

Due to reduced fire intensity, crews and heavy equipment were able to work on a containment line along an old logging road closer to the fire than previously constructed fuel breaks. When conditions allow, crews planned to use both ground and aerial ignition along the southeastern area to burn out the forest between the fire’s edge and the containment line.

The fire will receive a surge of personnel in the coming days as fire managers prepare to burn out areas and take advantage of good weather. A temporary spike camp near the Wurtz Airstrip was set up with about 150 personnel. Heavy equipment will continue to do work on fuel breaks.

On the northern section of the fire, the Whale Creek riparian zone will effectively block northern progression. Fire managers felt confident with line construction and had no concerns for high fire activity or spread.

One new fire popped up in the upper White River within the Bob Marshall Wilderness, called the Juliet Fire. It was listed at three acres and was being monitored with aerial resources.

Trail closures were being implemented, including for the White River 112, Wall Creek 90, Bungalow Mountain 243, Spotted Bear Pass Cut across 739.

Closures were not currently affecting the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail.

According to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, unhealthy conditions existed in Columbia Falls, Cut Bank, Great Falls and Libby.

Reporter Scott Shindledecker can be reached at (406) 758-4441 or sshindledecker@dailyinterlake.com.