Greetings, Beacon Nation! Above-average rainfall and cooler-than-normal temperatures have helped keep wildfire season at bay in western Montana this summer, but high heat and low humidity are combining to deliver prime wildland fire conditions in the back half of August.
Having spent the weekend along Minnesota’s north shore of Lake Superior, where our family celebrated my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary by surprising my mom, I felt right at home amid the cool and wet conditions that were reminiscent of northwest Montana’s July. In that regard, I was a little grouchy to return home last night to a hot-and-dry forecast, although I wasn’t surprised. The lake effect along Minnesota’s northern tier of Gitchi Gami (Ojibwe for “Great Lake”) influences weather patterns on a more significant scale than the microclimates conjured by our Flathead Lake, more than 165 of which could fit inside Lake Superior. Even so, wave-watching while wearing a wool rollneck fisherman’s sweater from the splashy shoreline cove in Grand Marais matched my mood.
Over the weekend, four new wildfires sparked in Sanders County along the Highway 200 corridor between Perma and Paradise, including the Knowles Fire (pictured above), which started Aug. 17 on state land six miles east of Paradise. Meanwhile, three additional fires — the Mile Marker 91 Fire near Dixon, the Little Seepay Fire and the Magpie Fire — are burning nearby on the Flathead Indian Reservation.
But the 745-acre Knowles Fire is the largest of the blazes. Fire officials initially clocked it at about 20 acres Sunday, but it grew to 250 acres within an hour and had nearly tripled in size by Tuesday morning.
Burning in steep and rocky terrain on the north side of Flathead River, the Knowles Fire was 0% contained on Tuesday. Yesterday, it made short crown runs and exhibited short-range spotting, with similarly active fire behavior expected today and tomorrow as moderate winds pick up, temperatures rise and humidity drops, according to fire officials. Maximum temperatures will be 91-96 degrees Fahrenheit, and minimum humidity will be in the 12-17% range, warmer and drier than previous days. This afternoon, wind gusts are forecast up to 16 mph.
The Northern Rockies Incident Command Team 9 took control of the fire Monday evening. The fire is burning in tall grass and trees, with some trees torching. Helicopters and air tankers are attempting to slow the fire spread and reduce fire intensity, according to a press release from the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC).
“Firefighter access to the fire is limited, with Sanders County Search and Rescue shuttling firefighters across the river by boat,” the release states. “Many additional firefighting resources and support staff are on order and arriving today.”
Firefighters are using direct and indirect tactics to reduce the risk of fire spreading to residences, the Highway 200 corridor, private infrastructure, private and DNRC timberland.
“Fire officials continue to develop fire suppression strategies to minimize risk to critical values,” the release states.
In Northwest Montana, large private landowners with open access policies have turned out to support legislation that would give game wardens broader authority to enforce rules on chunks of private land open to the public for hunting, fishing and recreation
The best stories are those that make a difference in the community we call home. Your support makes those stories possible. Please consider chipping in a one-time gift or sign up for a recurring contribution and join the hundreds of members in our Editor’s Club. Every little bit helps.
Every donation is injected straight into the newsroom.
