Firefighters attacking Lion Creek fire in remote Swan Valley

SWAN VALLEY - Flathead National Forest firefighters are working on suppressing a fire in a remote area of the Swan Mountain Range. The Lion Creek Fire was reported Tuesday, Aug. 11, burning in heavy fuels on steep slopes. The lightning caused fire was 110 acres as of Monday, Aug. 17. With the hotter, drier weather, fire managers expect to see more active fire behavior in the coming days.

The fire is burning approximately one mile outside the Bob Marshall Wilderness and four miles from other land ownership (DNRC).

At 10:50 a.m. Aug. 11, a Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation helicopter spotted the fire on its way to another fire assignment. The Forest immediately sent ground crews and helicopters for initial attack. Due to its remote location, it took ground crews approximately three hours to hike to the fire. No roads access the area. Once there, firefighters were only able to engage the fire in a limited manner due to falling snags and steep, rugged terrain. Helicopter resources were able to moderate fire spread, accessing a nearby lake for water and quick turnaround times.

The fire was measured at 75 acres Tuesday night and has grown to 110 acres by Monday. It is burning in very steep terrain prone to rolling rocks and debris. It’s difficult for firefighters to access directly. Ground crews will take advantage of natural barriers to reduce fire spread. They’ve completed on-the-ground evaluations to inform a future strategic plan should the fire move westerly towards the Highway 83 corridor and additional values at risk. Firefighters also continue to monitor the fire by air.

People in the Swan Valley may see some smoke, though right now fire managers expect that much of the smoke will blow east into the Bob Marshall Wilderness due to wind patterns.

The area is not heavily visited, but visitors to Van Lake (7 miles away) should be aware that Lion Creek Trail #25 is closed. Nearby Forest Service roads are also closed as they have connector trails that come near the fire. People can map the fire location using the latitude/longitude 47 40.644, -113 38.274. 

The Forest expects that this fire may require a longer duration response due to its location and the difficulties it presents with access, steep terrain, falling snags, and heavy forest fuels. 

This year, due to Covid-19, the Forest Service is using aggressive initial attack, supported by available air tankers and helicopters wherever possible to extinguish wildfires quickly and minimize the need to bring large numbers of firefighters together. Fire managers understand the potential complications wildfire smoke may cause for COVID-19 patients and others with respiratory issues. The Forest will work closely with communities to assist with forecasting and preparation for wildfire smoke.

So far this summer, the Flathead National Forest has responded to 16 fires on Forest Service managed lands. This is the only one currently burning and is the largest fire in the Flathead National Forest so far this year.