At least seven small wildfires broke out in Flathead National Forest Tuesday afternoon, presumably the results of the day’s thunderstorms.
The fires are scattered throughout Flathead Valley, said Denise Germann of the U.S. Forest Service, with the biggest located around the Swan Lake area. The largest was about two acres as of 6 p.m. Tuesday night. Germann said officials believe lightning started the fires.
Also, the Brush Creek Fire west of Whitefish had grown to 21,990 acres as of 6 p.m. Tuesday night, but officials were happy with progress. Crews have completed twenty miles – about half of the fire’s entire perimeter – of containment lines. Flathead County Sheriff Mike Meehan said his department has asked 60 houses to evacuate in Star Meadow and between 35 and 40 more in the Good Creek area.
About 190 people attended a public information meeting at Bush Creek Fire’s Incident Command Center Tuesday night. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday Aug. 9 at 7 p.m.