Wildfire sparked by mid-June lightning storm

A small lightning-caused wildfire in the Kootenai National Forest doubled in size Tuesday.

The Zulu Fire north of Libby near Zulu Creek was estimated at about 20 acres Tuesday morning. It is the first sizable fire to hit Northwest Montana this summer.

The fire was first spotted Sunday afternoon, according to fire management officer Dan Rose with the Kootenai Forest. Rose said the fire was believed to have originated from a lightning storm that rolled through the area on June 11 and has been smoldering until temperatures rose and humidity dropped over the weekend.

Winds gusting at around 10 mph Monday morning spread the fire from around 10 acres to 20 acres.

Around 24 personnel are working on the fire with three more 20-person crews en route, including two hotshot crews from Lolo and Helena. In addition, two helicopters and six single-engine air tankers are providing assistance by spreading fire retardant to slow the fire’s progress.

Located in a remote area of the forest, Rose said the fire presents no threat to any homes or communities.

According to Rose, it is not unusual for sparks ignited by lightning storms to rest unnoticed for weeks before conditions change, allowing for the fire to spread into more flammable fuels.

The Zulu Fire is burning in an alpine fir forest, resulting in some tree torching and hot spots. It is currently moving upslope, slowing its progress as it moves in a north, northeast direction.

Rose said that though this year’s fire season has been slow to get started compared to last year, things may be about to pick up.

“We’ve been lagging behind where we were last year … but in this last four to five days with the increase in temperatures, fuel conditions are tracking very similar to where we were this time last year,” Rose said.

Fire danger in the Kootenai and Flathead forests was rated as “high” on Tuesday.

To view an all inclusive fire map of Montana, visit http://gis.dnrc.mt.gov/apps/firemap/.

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