Category Archives: Fire Information and Status

It’s spring: Glacier Park announces prescribed burns in North Fork

Another sign of spring: Glacier Park announces a couple of prescribed burns in the North Fork . . .

If you see smoke emanating from the North Fork in Glacier National Park in the next few weeks, there’s a good chance it’s part of a couple of planned burns for the area.

Two prescribed fire projects are planned along the Inside North Fork Road area of Glacier National Park in the next month, depending on weather and fuel conditions, according to a press release.

National Park Service (NPS) fire crews plan to burn 100 acres in the vicinity of Sullivan Meadow, approximately two miles east of Logging Ranger Station. The primary objectives of the burn are to reduce the number of understory trees serving as “ladders for fire” underneath mature ponderosa pine; to thin out trees that established after the 1999 Anaconda Fire and the 2001 Moose Fire; and to expose mineral soil to provide a seed bed for natural ponderosa pine regeneration.

Read more . . .

Elk Hill Fire shows little growth

Fire engines at Elk Hill Fire, April 13, 2016 - USFS photo
Fire engines at Elk Hill Fire, April 13, 2016 – USFS photo

Firefighting personnel continue dealing with the Elk Hill Fire, a 1068-acre blaze burning in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. The fire is 60% contained and continues to burn with its existing perimeter. According to the InciWeb site, “Suppression efforts will continue on the north and east edges of the fire.”

Check the fire’s InciWeb site for additional information and updates.

See also: “Fire shows little growth; new team takes over” (Daily Inter Lake)

Elk Hill Fire 60% contained; more progress expected today

Elk Hill Fire, aerial view. April 10, 2016 - USFS photo
Elk Hill Fire, aerial view. April 10, 2016 – USFS photo

Firefighting personnel continue dealing with the Elk Hill Fire, a 1068-acre blaze burning in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. The fire is now 60% contained, with further progress expected today.

Some 45 people are assigned to the effort. Three helicopters are making water drops. A Type 2 team started work yesterday.

According to the InciWeb site, “Fire personnel will remain working on the north edge in the heavier dead and down fuel (within the 2005 fire’s burned area), while the Type-2 fire crew will move to the east-side of the fire today, after making progress yesterday on the south edge.”

Check the fire’s InciWeb site for additional information and updates.

Elk Hill Fire still burning; Type 2 team arrives

Elk Hill Fire, April 10, 2016 - USFS photo
Elk Hill Fire, April 10, 2016 – USFS photo

Firefighting personnel continue dealing with the Elk Hill Fire, a 1068-acre blaze burning in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. Fifty people (up from 30 yesterday) are tied up with the effort so far. Three helicopters are making water drops. A Type 2 team is going in today.

The fire is still uncontained, although it doesn’t appear to be spreading significantly.

In general, not much has changed since our previous post, except for the increased number of folks on the ground.

Monitor the InciWeb page for more information.

Also, the Daily Inter Lake posted a pretty good write-up yesterday evening.

Already? 1000-acre Elk Hill Fire burning in the Bob

Elk Hill Fire, Lewis and Clarke NF, April 9, 2016 - USFS photo
Elk Hill Fire, Lewis and Clarke NF, April 9, 2016 – USFS photo

Personnel from the Lewis and Clarke National forest are busy suppressing the Elk Hill Fire, a 1000-acre blaze burning in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. Thirty people are tied up with the effort so far, as well as three helicopters. (Update: There are no significant changes as of April 11 at 10am.)

Here are the high points from the current InciWeb report . . .


The Elk Hill fire appears to have been started by a warming or campfire, but is under investigation.

Currently the fire is actively burning near lower North Fork Sun River, southeast of the Forest Service cabin on Cabin Creek, in the Bob Marshall Wilderness on the Rocky Mountain Ranger District. The Elk Hill Fire is burning in grass, and in downfall within the perimeter of a wildfire from 2005, moving into stands of mature Douglas fir. Although the weather is warm, this fire is primarily fuels-driven with potential for continued rapid spread.

The most active part of the fire is along Circle Creek in/around the 2005 fire area, because of the dead and down fuels within that area.

Fire personnel are continuing suppression efforts where it is safe to do so; and focus structure protection of the Forest Service Cabin Creek cabin. Three helicopters–one Type 1 and two Type-2–are assisting the on-the-ground efforts, as needed.

UPDATED TRAILS CLOSURES:

–North Fork Sun River Trail #201 from jct. w/#268 north to jct. w/#231.1 (northwest of Cabin Creek Cabin).

–Circle Creek Trail #231 from jct. w/#201 north to #231.1 and southeast to jct. w/#208.

–Cabin Creek Admin. Connector #231.1 closed in it’s entirety.

–Circle Creek Connector #268.1 closed in it’s entirety.


Further reading:

InciWeb report on the Elk Hill Fire
Elk Hill fire active near Cabin Creek cabin (Helena Independent Record; written prior to the trail closures)

Open burning season begins, but you might wish to wait a while

A note from the Fire Chief, October 1, 2015 . . .

According to the USFS report in the Daily Interlake dated October 1, 2015, fires will continue to burn until significant RAIN and or SNOW. At this time the fires in Lincoln County continue to burn but pose NO immediate threat to Private Property.

The Marston Fire is now over 7000 acres.

Tje Goat Rock Fire is over 22000 Acres.

The fire season is being lifted and Flathead County has moved to allowing open burning. However the following information should be followed.

  1. Check the weather forecast and air quality for rain and/or wind events.
  2. Establish a fire line and clear the perimeter around your fire, down to bare soil.
  3. Have an adequate WATER supply and EXTRA persons to help control any fire that might escape your control.
  4. NEVER leave any fire unattended!
  5. Start debris fires small and add in small amounts to insure you can keep your fire contained.
  6. Always REMEMBER that you can be held financially responsible for suppression costs, should your fire escape!

Lynn P. Ogle

Fire Chief, Trail Creek Irregulars

Montana FWP: The effects of fire on animals

Here’s a timely news release by Bruce Auchly of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks discussing the effect — direct and indirect —  of fire on animals . . .

Summer’s fires are over, right?

All that smoke-in-the-nose, ashes-in-mouth is past for the year. Or so we hope.

Yet even in the worst of it many of us had choices. Some folks left Montana, others sought relief in air conditioning at home or office or both.

Animals don’t have those luxuries. Yes, birds can fly and bears can burrow into a den, but fires in July and August happen at the wrong time for migration and hibernation.

First, let’s slay a rumor. The rash of bear conflicts, mostly black bears, this summer is not because smoke from forest fires was forcing bears out of their mountain redoubts and into towns. They are just farther afield this year looking for food.

Continue reading Montana FWP: The effects of fire on animals

All fire restrictions rescinded (including Flathead County finally)

Here’s the official press release on the lifting of fire restrictions for this corner of Montana. Note that Flathead County finally got with the program yesterday . . .


Date: September 8, 2015
Contact: Lisa Osborn  , 406-295-7558
Contact: Jeff Stevenson , 406-283-7795

Northern Rockies Coordination Group Kalispell Area Interagency News Release

Libby,MT.—All Fire Restrictions will be rescinded across North West Montana.Jurisdictions include:

  • Flathead National Forest
  • Kootenai National Forest
  • Bob Marshall Wilderness Lands within the Flathead National Forest
  • Glacier National Park
  • U.S.Fish & Wildlife Service
  • MT-DNRC Northwestern Land Office
  • Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks Region 1
  • Counties:Flathead, Lake (outside of Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribe), Lincoln, and Sanders

On most of the jurisdiction listed above all fire restrictions have been rescinded effective immediately. The Flathead County Commissioners will meet on Thursday to decide whether to rescind restrictions in Flathead County. [they did – editor]

Please remember that even though fire restrictions have been rescinded fire season is still active. There are many fires burning in the area so you may still see smoke and flames within fire areas. There are many fire area closures please call your local Forest Service, DNRC or county fire department office for more information. Remember that you must stay out of closure areas until the closure is lifted by the land management agency.

At this time no open burning is allowed.

As hunting season begins, land managers want to remind hunters to practice wildfire safety while enjoying the outdoors. The Kalispell area fire restrictions group isurging caution for those participating in hunting and other outdoor activities to avoid sparking a fire. Just one small spark/ember from an unattended warming fire, muzzle of a gun or a hot exhaust pipe on a vehicle can ignite the dry grass.Please refrain from building campfires/warming fires during windy or dry conditio.

With that in mind, here are a few suggestions to avoid sparking a wildfire:

  • Keep water nearby when welding on stands.
  • When shooting close to the ground, be sure there is no dry grass or tinder in front of your muzzle. Though rare, it’s not impossible for a shot to ignite a fire.
  • Use properly maintained spark arresters on all power equipment.
  • Never leave a campfire or warming fire unattended, even for a few minutes. Be sure to completely extinguish campfires/warming fires when ready to go.
  • Keep a bucket, a shovel and a fire extinguisher in your vehicle and at your camp.
  • Be aware of area fire restrictions.
  • Be mindful of where you drive or park and stay on designated trails. Avoid parking on dry brush or grass, since your exhaust system can ignite the vegetation.

Please keep wildfire safety in mind and have a safe and memorable hunting experience.

Fire restrictions lifted in almost all areas of Northwest Montana

Pretty much all fire restrictions (Stage I and Stage II) have been rescinded in this corner of Montana except for Flathead County proper. Chances are, the Flathead County Commissioners will get around to lifting restrictions for the county on Thursday.

There is no open burning, however. That will have to wait until October, if not later.

See also: Most fire restrictions removed (Daily Inter Lake – paywall)