POTOMAC - An old burn pile on private property in Potomac caused a fire that burned three tenths of an acre July 2. While the pile was cold to the touch above ground, the fire still burned underground in roots and organic material. The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) is still investigating and it is unknown if citations will be issued.
Greenough/Potomac Volunteer Fire Department (GPVFD) Chief Ryan Hall said residents called 911 and began fighting the fire with a skidder to knock down the spread of the fire.
Nine GPVFD volunteers responded to the fire. Hoses were laid out to put water on the fire and mop up was completed by GPVFD and the DNRC Missoula Unit. Mop up of the fire was completed in 4.5 hours. The fire burned into a creek bottom and a freshly cut and baled hayfield. No hay was ignited.
The cause of the fire is still being investigated. Chief Hall said it appeared to have gone underground into dead roots and organic material. Under the green sod level, hot spots could be found four to nine inches beneath the surface, he said.
“The old burn pile was cold but extensions could be found underground to both sides of the old pile,” said Chief Hall.
The residents responsible for the burn pile had a legal burn permit but failed to activate it on the days they burned.
“Please read [burn] permits fully and, on the day you wish to burn, you must activate the permit,” said Chief Hall.
Hall thinks the time of the burn pile might have been a minimum of two weeks ago. The bottom line was that it was not dead out. Underground fires can show smoke and can be sniffed out and suppressed, said Chief Hall.
“There is a very different smell between the smell of black char and fresh smoke,” said Chief Hall.
Chief Hall said this is a great reminder to make sure burn piles are dead out.
“Dead out means you can put your hand into it, after copiously watering it and mixing ashes around,” he said and added that burn piles should be checked for smoke and heat numerous days after burning.
After the pile is cooled with water, bare mineral soil should be mixed into the ashes.
Chief Hall said creek bottoms are not the best places to burn. There is decaying organic material, including rotten stumps and roots, twigs and mossy material, that makes it easier for a fire to creep underground in creek bottoms.
Fires should be checked 10 - 12 days after burning piles larger than 10 square feet.
Outdoor permitted burning is closed for the season but recreational campfires are still allowed.
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