Air quality expected to improve with incoming rain

Smoke from wildfires burning in Washington, Idaho and Canada contributed to deteriorating air quality Thursday across Northwest Montana.

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality issued an air-quality alert for Lincoln County due to the conditions. Air quality was listed as “unhealthy for sensitive groups” in both the Libby and Flathead Valley areas.

Air quality was expected to improve by Friday as a powerful low pressure weather system enters the region, bringing cooler temperatures and heavy rain.

“Storm motion will be very slow, so the risk for flash flooding will be elevated both Friday and Saturday,” the National Weather Service in Missoula warned. “Wildfire burn scars and flash flood-prone areas will be most susceptible. In addition to localized flash flooding, frequent lighting and gusty winds also look likely. Those with outdoor plans late this week and weekend should be alert to the latest forecast.”

A significant cool down is expected Sunday, with steady rainfall continuing.

Daytime high temperatures will range in the 60s and 70s, and mountainous terrain will be even cooler, with highs struggling to reach the 50s, the Weather Service noted.

A few fires remained active across Montana on Thursday.

The lightning-caused Snow Creek Fire on the Bob Marshall Wilderness northeast of Condon was estimated to have burned 1,561 acres. The fire continued to actively spread, primarily to the north and south of Helen Creek along the Main South Fork trail No. 80, and in the mouth of Hungry Creek. A burnout operation was conducted Thursday to help slow the blaze.

The fire was burning the heavy dead and down fuels in an area that burned in 2000, and along a grassy slope west of a 2013 burn.

Structure wrapping and sprinkler system installations have been completed at the Black Bear and Salmon Forks administrative site, including the Big Salmon Pack Bridge.

Due to the encroaching blaze, a large group of floaters were escorted downriver by firefighters on Aug. 6 and 7.

Fire officials note that a coalition of employees from the Spotted Bear Ranger District, along with outfitters, guides and the general public have worked together since the start of the fire to get people recreating in the impacted area out safely.

Near Missoula, the Beeskove Fire was listed at 429 acres on Thursday, with moderate fire behavior. More than 300 firefighters were working the blaze on the Rattlesnake National Recreation Area.

The North Hills Fire east of I-15, just north of Helena, had burned approximately 5,019 acres and was 92% contained. No additional growth was expected due to calm conditions.

The Horsefly Fire 8 miles east of Lincoln was listed at 1,335 acres.