HAMILTON – A wildfire burning in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, seven miles northwest of Stevensville, has expanded to 400 acres.
Forest Service spokeswoman Nan Christianson says the west-northwest corner of the Kootenai Creek fire has reached the ridge between Kootenai Creek and Bass Creek. It was burning actively Thursday afternoon.
Meanwhile, the Independent Record newspaper reported that a wildfire near Dearborn north of Helena consumed between 65 and 80 acres and forced the temporary evacuation of some homes.
Dearborn Volunteer Fire Chief Roy Stock says between 12 and 20 homes were threatened but were eventually protected.
Elsewhere, about 160 firefighters are being demobilized from a 177-acre fire on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, 10 miles north of Anaconda.
Fire information officer Gary Hoshide (hoh-SHEE’-day) says 200 firefighters and support personnel have been working the Bielenburg fire. As of Friday, he says the team will be reduced to 40 firefighters, two engines and one helicopter.