Fire starts in Northwest Montana Zone
July 16, 2007
Recent lightning activity and human actions have created several fire starts across Northwest Montana in the last week. Initial attack strategies by fire management personnel from Flathead and Kootenai National Forests, Glacier National Park, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and rural fire departments in Flathead, Lake, Lincoln and Sanders Counties have been successful in suppressing the fires.
Since July 11, there have been 13 new fire starts in Northwest Montana. Most of the fires have been small in size, with the largest at approximately 17 acres east of Lake Mary Ronan. This fire was started by haying activities on private land. Montana State Department of Natural Resources and Conservation personnel and equipment, in cooperation with volunteer fire personnel from Polson, Chief Cliff and Rollins Fire Departments, suppressed the fire.
A fire by Holland Lake on the Flathead National Forest, south of Condon, is believed to have been initiated by human actions. The fire was controlled at approximately 1/10 of an acre.
Logging operations contributed to two fire starts near Marion and southeast of Smith Lake. Both fires were suppressed with initial attack actions.
Several unattended campfires were discovered on the Kootenai National Forest over the last several days. Fire Prevention Specialist Marcy Goheen said, “It is imperative that people build safe campfires. Never leave your campfire unattended, and make sure it is dead out before leaving.”
Lightning sparked several fire starts over the weekend, including a three-acre fire on Crane Mountain, east of Flathead Lake, two fires near Star Meadows, west of Whitefish, and one near Swan Lake. Fire crews and equipment continue suppression activities on these fires.
Dan Cassidy, DNRC Northwest Land Office Fire and Service Forestry Program Manager, said, “We are seeing conditions that we normally don’t see until August.”
Due to the dry conditions, Cassidy said state aircraft support, including a white/yellow/black Huey Helicopter, and fire engines have been routinely responding to recent fire starts.
Fire restrictions are NOT in place in Northwest Montana. It is anticipated that continued hot temperatures and lack of moisture will prompt fire restrictions in the near future.
Denise Germann, Public Affairs Officer, Flathead National Forest
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