According to this morning’s InciWeb update, the Ninko Creek Fire is about 500 acres in size. From the “remarks” section of the report . . .
The west flank is holding well. The center of the fire is burning the hottest in steep and hazardous terrain. The north side of the ridge is holding well. The fire has burned into a portion of the 2003 Wedge Fire.
Check the InciWeb Ninko Creek Fire page for further details, including road closure information . . .
The Daily Inter Lake posted their daily fire summary late last night. Among other things, it appears the Ninko Creek Fire had grown to 500 acres as of Sunday evening.
High winds late into Saturday night fanned fires across western Montana.
Sustained gusts as high as 30 mph in some places with even stronger winds in higher elevations led to increased fire activity in many of the area’s active wildfires, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
Yesterday’s stiff winds blew up the Ninko Creek Fire to 500 acres from the previous 35. Here’s the latest information, as reported by the Flathead Beacon . . .
The Ninko Creek Fire located approximately 40 miles north of Columbia Falls in the Whale Creek Drainage on the Flathead National Forest had increased fire activity on Saturday, September 26. The fire increased to approximately 500 acres and is burning towards the 2003 Wedge Fire. The fire remains to the north of Forest Road #10355. Resources assigned to the incident include the Flathead Hot Shot Crew, several fire engines including two contract engines, and aerial resources. Forest Roads #318, #9805 and #907, Whale Creek, Ninko Creek and Wedge Canyon Roads, are closed at this time. Trail closures in the area are anticipated as well.
This one’s becoming a nuisance, folks.
If you want to keep an eye on things, see the InciWeb listing for the Ninko Fire.
Strong, gusty winds accompanying a cold frontal passage this evening may fan area fires. The Daily Inter Lake has a write-up, including some discussion of the Ninko Creek Fire north of Whale Creek . . .
A fire red flag warning has been issued for Western Montana today as strong winds, coupled with low humidity and dry fuels, are expected to significantly increase fire danger.
The warning, in effect from this afternoon through tonight, comes as meteorologists predict that a passing cold front will bring widespread and sustained westerly winds of 15 to 30 mph, according to the National Weather Service.
At some higher elevations, winds could blow from 30 to 50 mph with gusts of up to 80 mph, according to meteorologists who issued the warning Friday afternoon.
Yesterday’s Daily Inter Lake had a good summary of fire activity in the Flathead National Forest, including the lightning-caused Ninko Creek fire just north of Whale Creek . . .
The Flathead National Forest has three wildfires on its hands, along with several prescribed fire projects.
Lightning that moved through the area earlier this week triggered the Ninko Creek Fire in the North Fork Flathead drainage and the Ashley Divide fire just west of Kalispell.
According to an Associated Press article, Montana and Idaho are setting hunting season quotas for wolves this year. This is likely a pro forma action, since any wolf hunt will be challenged in court by a number of environmental groups.
The Missoulian reports that Montana is probably in for a normal fire season. “Normal” means something on the order of 420,000 acres burned and around 1800 fires, mostly human-caused.
Here we go again, folks. Fire season is starting to heat up in the Flathead Valley. For current forest and wildfire information and related material, see our extensive Fire Information Links page.
From the Sunday, August 10, 2008 online edition of the Daily Inter Lake . . .
A lightning storm Friday night sparked 13 fires Saturday on the Flathead Reservation, the largest of which had burned about 400 acres Saturday evening.
Read the entire article . . .
And from the Friday, August 8, 2008 online edition of the Hungry Horse News . . .
Northwest Montana is heading into the thick of fire season and folks are being urged to make sure all campfires are dead out and cold to the touch.
In addition, there is absolutely no open burning in Flathead County through September, fire officials note.
On average, there’s been one human caused fire in the valley every day. The weather forecast doesn’t appear to be helping the fire risk, either. The forecast is calling for hot, dry weather with highs in the 80s and 90s and a slight risk of thunderstorms, though it should cool off a bit by Sunday.
Read the entire article . . .
From the Monday, July 21, 2008 online edition of the Flathead Beacon . . .
Despite a wet, prolonged spring, fire season has snuck in the back door. Over the weekend, crews from Flathead National Forest contained a wildland fire in the Whitefish Range.
Approximately 20 fire personnel constructed a fire line and laid water hose on the Red Meadow 1 Wildland Fire
From the Wednesday, June 11, 2008 online edition of the Daily Inter Lake . . .
(Note that there is an open house to discuss these changes to fire suppression policy tomorrow, from 7 to 8 p.m., at Sondreson Hall.)
A wildland “fire use” policy that has been mostly applied to wilderness areas is being considered for other parts of the Flathead National Forest.
The proposal came up a year ago, but forest officials are seeking public comments on a proposal for allowing some naturally caused fires, in some circumstances, to burn outside the wilderness.
Read the entire article . . .
From the Wednesday, June 11, 2008 online edition of the Missoulian . . .
(Note that there is an open house to discuss these changes to fire suppression policy tomorrow, from 7 to 8 p.m., at Sondreson Hall.)
Foresters looking to fight fire with fire have started looking beyond the boundaries of designated wilderness areas, and this summer will apply a sort of “let it burn” policy to public lands throughout northwest Montana.
They call it “wildland fire use” and this summer it could be used in the North Fork Flathead drainage above Columbia Falls, the Swan Range near Bigfork and the Mission Mountains.
Read the entire article . . .