forest fires

The active 41 Complex of forest fires has grown again with an estimated size of 2,800 acres early Tuesday, Sept 6. and from the looks of the smoke column, we'll have a larger acreage total Wednesday

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Monday afternoon, the Montana Department of Highways closed Skalkaho Pass due to the 41 Complex forest fire, 10 miles east of Hamilton.
The fire, started by lightning in late August, is now at least 2,000 acres and put up a large column of smoke Monday

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The winds were blowing and the temperature began to rise Friday in the Bitterroot Valley.
Fire managers watched their forest fires begin to come back to life by the afternoon. And with the forecast for temperatures back into the 90s by late next week, the chances of fire growth are good

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Lightning caused fires are keeping Forest Service crews busy in Montana and Idaho. The accompanying photo is of the Salt Fire in the Salmon District.
However, the largest fire in the area, the Saddle Complex is about 24,000 acres and is still south of Hughes Creek in the West Fork of the Bitterroot National Forest

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Lightning has caused at least nine new forest fires on the Bitterroot National Forest, according to Information Officer Tod McKay. The slow-moving storms started Sunday evening.
Four fires are burning east of Hamilton in the Sapphire Mountains on the Darby Ranger District and five smaller fires are burning up the West Fork on the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness

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Here's the latest on other fires in the vicinity of the Bitterroot Valley - as of the afternoon of August 26.
East of the valley, the Lutz Fire on the Beaverhead-Deer Lodge National Forest is currently estimated at 584 acres

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The 748 acre Saddle Complex of forest fires in the Salmon-Challis and Bitterroot National Forests continues to spread in every direction, causing more closures in the area.
The fire, south of the Bitterroot Valley, crept onto Bitterroot National Forest land Sunday, and now a joint operation from both forests is managing the fire

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The wilderness forests fires that make up the Saddle complex in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness have grown to over 700 acres during the weekend.
The fires are being managed for resource benefits and crews are in place at Horse Creek Hot Springs, Oreana Lookout, Gattin Ranch and a small mine in the Horse Creek drainage for possible structure protection

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Small forest fires were started by lightning storms over the Bitterroot National Forest last week.
Public Affairs Officer Tod McKay said the Birch Creek Fire was at 6 acres last Friday in the Sapphire Mountains 10 miles northeast of Corvallis with 26 firefighters and two engines on the fireline

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The Indian Fire in the Salmon-Challis National Forest is now about 80 percent contained, according to Forest Service officials.
Structure protection continues for homes near the fire on Indian Creek

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