New Wildfire Reported Between Plains & Paradise

The Hungry Horse Reservoir remains closed to all public access, including both the east and west side roads, as firefighting efforts continue on the Ridge Fire, the Tin Soldier, and other fires in the area.

Sixteen trails are closed due to the Sidney Fire, which is south of East Glacier and West of Heart Butte.

A new fire of unknown origin is burning between Plains and Paradise.

Here are the latest updates those, and other major wildfires burning across the state:

River Road East Fire ( 11,951 acres - 6 miles east of Plains, MT.)

The River Road East Fire was first reported on Friday, August 18, and initially estimated at 500 acres. By Saturday afternoon, MTN news reported the blaze, fueled by tall grass and timber, had ballooned to over 11-thousand acres, burning  both south and north of Montana Highway 200 and the Clark Fork River near the community of Paradise. The fire began on private land, but has burned into the Lolo National Forest.

Multiple agencies including the Forest Service, Montana Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and other partners are on scene.

Evacuations are being issued by Sanders County Sheriff's Office for Paradise and surrounding areas. Montana Red Cross has opened a shelter for evacuees at the Church on the Move in Plains. Evacuated livestock are being kept at the Sanders County fairgrounds in Plains.

Highway 200 was closed for a time, but has been re-opened.

Sidney Fire (198 acres - 16 miles west of Heart Butte)

As of August 17, the fire is estimated to be around 198 acres. An Infra-Red (IR) flight was completed last night and the reflects more accurate mapping.  The fire is currently burning in timber on the west side of the South Fork Two Medicine River; and moving south towards Badger Cabin where prior fire events burned in 2007 and 2017.  Spot fires in the grass were contained on Tuesday (8/15), east of the river; two additional spot fires were found and contained on Wednesday (8/16).

11 fire personnel are on the ground with support from two helicopters, including one heavy helicopter and one light helicopter. Helicopters will continue support by delivering water drops from the nearby South Fork Two Medicine River. They also have permission from the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council to use water from Dog Gun Lake if needed.

Trail Closures: (Forest Order #01-15-01-23-25):

• Trail 101 from the intersection of Trail 119 and Trail 101 to the junction of 101 and 133.
• Trails 133, from Summit Trailhead, and Trail 133.1, from Summit Campground, to where these 2 trails join Trail 101.
• Trail 134 from the junction of Trail 134 and Trail 137 to the junction of Trail 134 and Road 8958.
• Trail 101.1a between the junctions of Trail 101.1a and Trail 101.
• Trail 101.1b between the junctions of Trail 101.1b and Trail 101.
• Trail 103 from the junction of Trail 103 and Trail 101 to the junction of Trail 103 and Trail 142.
• Trail 103.1.
• Trail 103.2 from the junction of Trail 103.2 and Trail 144 to the junction of Trail 103.2 and Trail 103.
• Trail 136 from the junction of Trail 136 and Trail 101 to the junction of Trail 136 and Trail 137.
• Trail 137 from the junction of Trail 136 and Trail 137 to the junction of Trail 137 and Trail 101.
• Trail 144 from the junction of Trail 144 and Trail 103 to the junction of Trail 144 and Trail 104.
• Trail 141 from the junction of Trail 141 and Trail 103 to the junction of Trail 144 and Trail 103.
• Trail 142 from the junction of Trail 103 and Trail 142 to Trail 141.
• Trail 102 from the junction of Trail 102 and Trail 101 to the junction of Trail 102 and Trail 170.
• Trail 102A.
• Trail 170 from the junction of Trail 170 and Trail 101 to the junction of Trail 170 and Trail 102.
• Trail 140 from the junction of Trail 140 and Trail 170 to the junction of Trail 140 and Trail 181.
• Trail 181 from the junction of Trail 181 and Trail 140 to the junction of Trail 181 and Trail 170.
• Trail 119.

Ridge Fire (3573 acres - 6 miles southeast of Hungry Horse)

Yesterday, gusty winds attempted to complicate firefighting efforts on the east side of the Ridge Fire, however, crews have continued to be successful with the containment lines on the northwest and west side of the fire, allowing resources to be reallocated to the more active east and southeast side of the fire. Aviation continued to play a crucial role in assisting across the fire.

Today winds will continue to test the containment lines on the west and northwest side of the fire. Crews are continuing to mop-up and secure control lines on the northwest and west side to keep the fire in the current footprint.

Crews on the east and southeast side will continue to scout, plan, and install any direct and indirect control lines where they can to prevent any spread to the north, south, and east. Aviation will be utilized today as winds allow.

The Flathead County Sheriff’s Office has issued a pre-evacuation notice from the east side of Spotted Bear Road to West Glacier. Visit the Flathead Sheriff’s office Facebook page for details.

Doris Point Fire (904 acres - 8 miles south of Hungry Horse)

Crews will continue to maintain confinement, and point protection strategy on the values at risk in coordination with the Flathead National Forest. Crews will continue fuels reduction and structural prep, as well as setting up pump sprinklers.

Tin Soldier Fire (6127 acres - 17 miles east of Swan Lake)

Crews will continue to maintain confinement, and point protection strategy on the values at risk in coordination with the Flathead National Forest. Crews will continue fuels reduction and structural prep, as well as setting up pump sprinklers.

An evacuation has been issued by the Flathead County Sheriff for Heinrude community. Visit the Flathead Sheriff’s office Facebook page for details.

East Fork Fire (3500 acres - 12 Miles south of Trego, MT.)

Fire growth was less than anticipated on Friday, so the eastern perimeter of the East Fork Fire did not reach the trigger point that had been established on Thursday.  Helicopters and fixed wing air tankers were able to make water drops on Friday morning until gusty winds halted these operations.  Additional resources have arrived on scene, bringing the total number of personnel assigned to the fire up to 339.

The Flathead County Sheriff’s Department issued a mandatory evacuation for residents and visitors along the Highway 93 corridor south of Stryker and just north of Olney as well as along Good Creek Road. For more information, go to the Sheriff’s Department website.

BIG KNIFE FIRE (7132 acres - 5 miles W of Arlee)

The Big Knife Fire is currently 1.25 miles north of the Rattlesnake Wilderness Boundary (Lolo National Forest) with no significant growth towards the Lolo National Forest in the last week.

On the north edge of the fire, along S. Canal Road, crews are continuing to mitigate hazards by removing snags inside the fire perimeter at least a tree length from the line. Crews patrolling the area observed the fire backing down into the bottom of the Gold Creek drainage. On the south end of the fire in the Agency Creek drainage, crews are continuing to patrol and monitor fire activity. On the east side of the fire near Jocko Lookout, crews will continue monitoring the pumps and sprinkler systems and monitoring the fire growth in the primitive area.

Several areas near the base of the mountains west of the Big Knife Fire (Jocko, Canal, Francis) remain in PRE-EVACUATION WARNING by order of the Lake County Sheriff. The Tribal Primitive Area, Belmore Slough and Burnt Cabin Roads are closed.

COLT FIRE (7154 acres - 15 miles NW of Seely Lake)

Firefighters are taking advantage of limited fire activity to patrol and mop up hot spots. The majority of the fire’s heat remains on the fire’s southwestern edge. Chipping operations will continue on the southern and eastern perimeters. Tropical moisture from Hurricane Hilary is expected to make its way into the area in the beginning of next week. Heavy downed fuels will continue to smolder but fire activity is anticipated to be low.
The Lolo National Forests has lifted the closure of the following: Rainy Lake Campground and access road, Alva Lake Campground and access road, as well as Lakeside Campground and access road. All other Forest closures remain in place.

NIARANDA FIRE (20,370 acres - 12 miles west of Elmo) & MILL POCKET FIRE (1869 acres -  3 miles West of Hwy. 28)

Fire lines built over the past several weeks were tested by intense winds Friday and withstood 30-40 mph gusts. Firefighters were on alert for any blowing embers or new spot fires outside the line while also working to mop up some areas and work on suppression repair in others. The Niaranda Fire is now 90% contained, and the Mill Pocket Fire 95% contained.

The eastern portion of the Niarada Fire closest to Elmo saw the bulk of the effort as crews worked to cool lingering heat source utilizing some of the 4 miles of hose lays that have been installed in the area. These efforts will be ongoing for the next several days. Structure protection resources – engine crews, sprinkler systems and hose lays – remain in place but will begin drawing down as the weekend forecast calls for reduced wind, increased humidity and cloud cover.