Glacier Park responded to three new fires over the last day or so, including one above Bowman Lake that closed the trail to Numa Lookout . . .
A flurry of wildfire activity in northwest Montana over the weekend didn’t spare Glacier National Park, where firefighters on Monday were responding to three new starts west of the Continental Divide, according to public affairs officer Gina Icenoggle.
Among the 67 active fires reported in Montana in the last 24 hours are the Kishenehn Creek and Bowman North fires burning in an area of the park just east of the North Fork Flathead River, not far from the U.S.-Canada border. A third fire, dubbed the Brushy Incident, is burning along McDonald Creek between Packer’s Roost and Mineral Creek, in the scar of the 2003 Robert Fire.
(Also, Glacier NP has a new one above Bowman Lake, estimated at 0.5 acres. I noticed the lightening strike yesterday evening, right across the river from our place.)
Kalispell, MT, July 31, 2023 — A dry lightning storm overnight between July 29 and July 30 caused an increase in fire starts on the Flathead National Forest. 17 fires have been reported since the lightning storm and firefighters are investigating smoke reports and conducting initial attack.
The largest new fires are the Kah Mountain and Bruce fires on the Spotted Bear Ranger District. These two are being combined with two smaller starts into the Tin Soldier Complex. Firefighting crews are responding with initial attack and a Type 3 Incident Management Team has been ordered to take command of the Tin Soldier Complex, estimated at 80-100 acres. Spotted Bear Ranger District has seven reported fires at this time. Alcove and Stadium Creek Fires are in the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex. The 0.5-acre Elam Fire is along the West Side Road on the Hungry Horse Reservoir and firefighters have constructed containment lines around the perimeter.
The Hungry Horse-Glacier View Ranger District has nine reported fires, one of which is in controlled and two are now contained, including the 0.10-acre fire near Lion Lake reported this morning July 31.
The Logan Fire is contained and is approximately 0.10 acre, located in timber with an active timber sale to the south. Aerial resources delivered buckets of water this morning, slowing the fire spread in support of the firefighters who successfully constructed containment line around the fire.
The Doris Point Fire is estimated at 0.5 acre and is burning on 80-90% slope in thick timber and vegetation with prevalent large-diameter dead trees. Fire personnel were able to approach the fire on Sunday but the risk to firefighter safety is very high due to the fire’s location. Fire personnel are working to evaluate opportunities and suppression plans that prioritize safety and probability of success.
The Ridge Fire is estimated at 20-30 acres, actively backing down towards Embry drainage in mature timber with high quantities of both dead and down trees and standing dead snags. This is a full suppression fire and fire personnel are assessing control features, utilizing old logging roads. Heavy equipment has been ordered to support firefighting efforts.
The Abbot Fire is a single tree snag burning less than half a mile from the Ridge fire and has been incorporated into the Ridge Fire response strategy.
The Emery Fire is estimated at 0.10 south of the ridge fire and is successfully controlled.
Currently, there are no fire-related area or road closures on the Flathead National Forest.
Kalispell, MT, July 26, 2023 — Interagency fire managers are implementing Stage I Fire Restrictions that will go into effect at 12:01am Saturday, July 29th, 2023 across the Flathead National Forest, Kootenai National Forest, Glacier National Park, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation – Northwestern Land Office, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Region 1, and Lincoln County, Flathead County, and Sanders County.
Each year, 70 to 80% of wildfires are human-caused and this summer the trend has continued. Northwest Montana is currently experiencing drought conditions including extremely dry forest fuels; forecasts of temperatures above normal accompanied by low humidity, wind, and minimal precipitation; and competition for firefighting resources, as fires continue to burn across the State and the West. The intent of Fire Restrictions is to reduce fire risk and prevent wildfires during periods of high to extreme danger by decreasing potential sources of ignition.
Please Note the change of venue for the July 28th Pizza Night.
Due to the shortage of propane-fired pizza ovens, it will be held at the Rittenburg’s, 1276 Long Bow Trail, where the grass is well-watered and vehicles can park on the graveled driveway. 56 pizza bases are ready and waiting. Please spread the word. Bring a chair, drinks and toppings to share.
From Ryan Butler, Assistant Fire Management Officer-Operations for Hungry Horse-Glacier View RD…
Today, July 24th, 2023 we had a new start in the Vance hill area north of Polebridge. Township 34 N, Range 2W NW, NE section 28. The fire was reported around 1450 hours by Numa, Cyclone and Thoma lookouts. Size is currently ¾ acre in timber and brush. Due to the quick response of Flathead Helitack they were able to keep the fire from spreading. Currently Helitack and district fire personnel are being successful suppressing this fire.
This was a human caused fire on private, unattended campfire. Please help spread the word in the north fork community that we are in VERY HIGH fire danger and planning level 4. Fire season is well under way with no relief in sight.
The WERNER fire was declared out 07/24/23 at 1200 hours. All fire personnel are off the fire.
A note just received (5:00pm, July 20)from Fire Chief Lynn Ogle…
I just spoke with Lincoln Chute with the County. He said that the last word on the Fire on Red Meadow is contained. The last word from USFS was that the crews are doing “Mop-up” and will be probable spending the night. More later if there is any more.
From Andy Huntsberger, District Fire Management Officer…
Today, July 19th, 2023 we had a new start in the Red Meadow Creek Drainage. Township 35 N, Range 22 W, SW corner of section 17. The fire was reported around 2200 hours on July 18th and we responded to the reported fire this morning.
The fire is currently about 2 acres in size and we have 20 fire personnel on scene. 8 Helicopter Rappelers from the Kootenai NF and 12 Flathead NF Fire personnel. To date, we have used Type 1 and 3 helicopters for water bucket drops to help contain this fire. Fire activity is creeping and smoldering with some intermittent small flare ups. The smoke is light, white and visible from Red Meadow Road FS115. Fire suppression operations are being successful at this time.
There are no trail, road or area closures at this time.
We don’t have much information yet. Reported at 9:42am, July 19, it is quite a ways up the ridge south of Red Meadow Road, about 6.5 miles west of the North Fork Road Junction. It was initially estimated at 1.5 acres. It looks like they’ve got at least two engines assigned to it and possibly some air support.
Rob Davies, Hungry Horse/Glacier View District Ranger, making a presentation at 2023 Summer North Fork Interlocal, July 12, 2023 – W. K. Walker
This summer’s North Fork Interlocal Agreement Meeting was a resounding success. Kudos to all the folks who came together to make it a real community-based event. Extra credit is due to the lunch crew who not only fed about 50 people, but organized the transformation from meeting room to dining hall and back again, all in the space of an hour.
We had 70 people there, including about 28 agency representatives from (deep breath) the Flathead National Forest, Glacier National Park, Montana FWP, Montana DNRC, Flathead County, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, The Glacier Institute and the U.S. Federal Highway Administration (no, really!). And we only finished 10 minutes late.
An excellent article in the Flathead Beacon about this year’s rapidly approaching fire season . . .
As Flathead County passes the midpoint of its fifth-driest year since 1894, top fire managers are bracing for a worrisome wildland fire season. Despite those ominous projections, officials say “firewise” residents and fire-adapted communities can provide the best line of defense by taking common-sense precautions to prepare.
With roughly 63,000 Flathead County residents living in the wildland-urban interface (WUI), or about 65% of the population — including 7,745 new residents who have migrated to the WUI in the past two years, according to U.S. Census Bureau data — top fire officials say education, outreach and proactive property owners could spell the difference between a calm or catastrophic summer.
“It’s just something that people need to understand and realize,” Fire Service Area Manager Lincoln Chute said Friday. “We live in a fire environment, so we all have a responsibility to mitigate the risk. And most of what we’re asking from folks is just commonsense behavior and maintenance.”
