Rain gives fire crews a chance to get ahead of the game

Flathead Hotshot on the Marston Fireline, Aug 23, 2015
Flathead Hotshot on the Marston Fireline, Aug 23, 2015

Rain and cooler weather has let fire crews make some progress against many area wildfires . . .

Substantial rainfall — at least by parched Northwest Montana standards — has dampened area wildfire activity.

The changing weather and slowing fire activity have allowed evacuation orders to be lifted in the Essex, Noxon and Libby areas.

On the 6,810-acre Northeast Kootenai Complex, which is almost entirely composed of the 6,700-acre Marston Fire east of Fortine, opportunistic firefighters were leaping at the chance to corral the blaze.

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