Cabins Evacuated as Lazier Creek Fire Erupts to 1,000 Acres

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— The Lazier Creek Fire has burned 1,000 acres south of the Middle Thompson Lake

— Residents and cabins are being evacuated near the Bend Guard Station, according to the Sanders County Sheriff’s Office

— Fire official: Fuel conditions are ripe for large fire growth as new lightning storms arrive

Updated: July 10, 5:45 p.m.

In a matter of weeks, the wet and worry-free conditions of spring have evaporated and wildfire season has roared to life in Montana.

A recent dry lightning storm collided with record-breaking heat and tinderbox conditions to spark several large fires across the region, and residents near Rogers Mountain west of Kalispell and the Thompson River area are being warned about pre-evacuation orders and the fires’ potential for rapid growth.

Crews have been furiously tackling several large blazes, including the 1,000-acre Lazier Creek Fire burning south of U.S. Highway 2 and Middle Thompson Lake. The fire ballooned from 40 acres to 400 acres on July 9, and is now listed at 1,000 and growing in dry grass, brush and timber. Cabins and homes were evacuated near the Bend Guard Station in Sanders County. The ACM and Thompson River roads were closed from milepost 18 to Highway 2.

A Type 2 incident management team assumed control of the Lazier fire as well as the Rogers Fire, which had burned 50 acres north of U.S. Highway 2 near Rogers Mountain.

On July 10, Lincoln County Sheriff Roby Bowe said the Rogers fire was still several miles from any structures, but seven residences were informed of the fire and told of potentially rapid growth.

The South Fork Hill Fire, a 31-acre blaze about 12 miles from Rexford on the west side of Lake Koocanusa, was 100 percent contained as of July 10. Bryan Donner, district ranger for the Kootenai National Forest, said a 20-person crew was still keeping an eye on it.

Over the weekend, state fire crews responded to 16 fires in 48 hours across Northwest Montana, while U.S. Forest Service crews tackled an 8-acre fire up the North Fork.

Another lightning storm is forecasted to hit the region July 11-12 along with above-average temperatures approaching 100 degrees that should persist for at least another week.

“The fuel conditions are ripe for large fire growth,” said Janette Turk, spokesperson for the Flathead National Forest.

After a wet spring that stimulated heavy growth in forest brush and grass, the indexes used to monitor fuel conditions are showing light and heavy fuels primed for ignition.

Fire danger was elevated to “high” last week and is approaching “very high” status in the near future, Turk said. The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes elevated fire danger to “extreme” on the west side of the Flathead Indian Reservation and “very high” on the east side.

Residents are encouraged to take precautionary measures to avoid starting human-caused fires. Also, homeowners living near forests should clean up potential fuel sources from around their homes.

This story will be updated when more information becomes available.