The Rice Ridge Fire started July 24. The afternoon of July 30 it went from 60 acres to approximately 1,100 acres. By the morning of Aug. 1 it was nearly 4,000 acres with evacuation warnings in place for the north end of Seeley lake. This photo was taken around 7 p.m. July 30 looking north from the top of Double Arrow Ranch.
The fire glow on the east side of Rice Ridge and into the Morrell Creek drainage July 30 at 11:30 p.m. (one minute exposure).
SEELEY LAKE- Firefighters and support crew have moved into Seeley Lake Elementary. As of Monday, there were 137 personnel working based out of the school.
The crews are working on the Rice Ridge Fire that is burning approximately six miles northeast of Seeley Lake. The fire, which started on July 24, is now more than 2,000 acres and has begun to burn up Pyramid Pass.
This isn't the first time SLE has opened its doors to host wildland firefighters.
"We kind of did it by accident a couple of years ago [for the Morrell Complex]," said SLE Superintendent Chris Stout. "It worked out well for everyone."
The initial contract opened the school up to the crews through Aug. 21 but Stout said they could pull out at any time and set up a camp elsewhere.
A dozen local people are working at the school to help support the fire camp. SLE is providing basic infrastructure, internet and three meals a day for the firefighters-an onsite hot breakfast, sack lunch, and dinner catered by local restaurants.
"It's been effective for them as far as convenience and price," said Stout. "For us it puts people to work for the summer and gives us a bit of money that's not general fund dollars."
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