NEWS

Fires continue to burn around state

Phil Drake
pdrake@greatfallstribune.com

HELENA (AP) – Fires continued to roar through many areas of Montana on Saturday, after earlier in the week prompting evacuations of some communities.

Much of western and central Montana is under a red flag warning Saturday, including areas around Great Falls, Helena, Missoula, Kalispell, Butte, Bozeman and Billings.

The Sheep fire in the Flathead National Forest was reported at 1,595 acres on Saturday morning, the same total that was posted Friday.

The fire, which has been burning since Aug. 9, was reported to still be about 1 mile south of Essex and about an eighth of a mile from the train tracks.

“Today, fire behavior will depend on the influence of the approaching cold front and the persistence of smoke over the fire,” fire officials with the Northern Rockies Type II Incident Management Team said.

They said construction of a fuel break, to limit the fire from spreading and to provide a safe spot for firefighters, , around Essex is nearly done. Officials said 200 structures are at risk.

Officials said Highway 2 remains closed between mile makers 178 and 185.

Fire managers are expecting another day of active burning that will test firefighters who are already stretched thin.

Most wildfires burning throughout western Montana grew on Friday.

The towns of Essex in Flathead County and Heart Butte on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation remain under evacuation orders.

The Spotted Eagle fire started in remote, heavy timber; actively burning in upper Lonesome Creek drainage in the Badger Creek area of the Lewis and Clark National Forest. On Friday, the fire expanded and crossed the Forest boundary and onto the Blackfeet Reservation west-northwest of Heart Butte.

The fire was being managed as part of the Family Peak Complex.

Officials on Friday ordered evacuation of Heart Butte and surrounding Badger Creek areas north to Palookaville road.

Margaret Hangan, a spokeswoman with Southwest Incident Team 4, which is managing the fire, said people staged at the Spotted Eagle blaze, but other information was not immediately available.

She said the fire started in the Rocky Mountain Ranger District of Lewis and Clark National Forest on Aug. 9, apparently due to a lightning storm, but had not been detected for several days, and when it was discovered, it was not burning much.

However, when it started to get dry it picked up immediately, prompting Friday’s evacuation.

There will be a community meeting in Browning at 4 p.m. today at the ACA Complex which is south of the Blackfeet Community College at 80 Heart Butte Road.

Residents will hear an update of current conditions, hear a review of the fire’s background and what response will be. Speaking at the meeting will be members Southwest Incident Team 4 Fire Management Team and the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council.

A shelter has been set up by the Blackfeet Nation and American Red Cross Montana Chapter, also at 80 Heart Butte Road in Browning. Anyone is welcome and services are free. Evacuees should bring personal items such as prescriptions, medications, personal documents, extra clothing and bedding, items for children and babies, and any other special items.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.