Fire Recap: Rain soaks flames

Almost an inch of rain fell on the Colt Fire on Sunday, Aug. 6, weakening the flames as firefighters make a final push to get full containment of the fire. More than an inch of rain reached parts of western Montana last weekend.

Many fire crews got time to rest after monsoonal moisture came over the region on Friday, Aug. 4. Most fires still have residual heat and will burn as temperatures warm up into August.

Colt Fire

The Colt Fire was last measured at 7,179 acres on Aug. 4, with 25% containment. Northern Rockies Team One has left command of the Colt Fire to Northern Rockies Team Five, a Type Two Complex Incident Management Team. The teams both worked together Aug. 5.

As of Monday, 515 firefighters are on the fire, including 10 hand crews and 6 helicopters. Fire growth on the fire has been minimal with the higher humidity levels and lower temperatures. Larger fuels are still dry, as it takes a longer period of moisture to limit large fuels.

While the fire is burning minimally, fire managers are concerned that fuels will begin to be consumed more actively as temperatures rise back to normal summer levels. Firefighters are taking the opportunity to reassess lines and scout the western side for a final wrap around the flames.

"This is a fire season slowing event, not a season ending event," Colt Fire Information Officer Chris Ziegler said. "Keep your head on a swivel, because things will warm back up."

The fire has been held along Forest Service Road 646 and along the West Fork of the Clearwater. Crews there are mopping up, or extinguishing any fuels still burning to secure containment.

Now fire managers have shifted their work towards the north side, where Forest Service Road 906 is the main barrier from flames reaching Lindbergh Lake. There are also several containment lines built out between Colt Lake and Beaver Lake

Fire managers are still treating the fire as a full suppression effort, and continue to build containment lines on the western side of the fire. Heavy equipment has built a fire line up to Sunset Peak, and now hope to contain the fire moving north.

No changes to evacuation orders and warnings had been made as of Aug. 7, and weather is expected to pick back up into the 80s and 90s by next week.

Tin Soldier Complex

Three fires started by lightning on July 30 are burning in the Swan Mountains 17 miles east of Swan Lake.

The Bruce Fire, Kah Mountain Fire and Sullivan Fire have burned 2,580 acres in heavy dead and downed fuels. A fourth fire that started because of the lightning storm has been put out by firefighters. There are roughly 75 personnel on the fire with 0% containment on the active fires.

While rain soaked areas to the south, fire managers reported little precipitation on the Tin Soldier Complex. Fire growth has continued to be moderate - in total growing 212 acres from Aug. 6 to Aug. 7.

There are several closures in the area for the flames, including East Side South Fork Road 38 and West Side South Fork Road 895 at mile marker 15. The fire is being managed as point source protection, meaning fire crews will protect structures and other important assets before focusing on fire containment.

The Tin Soldier Complex is being managed by an interagency type three team from Flathead National Forest.

Fuel breaks have been set up around the Wilderness Lodge and the hydroelectric facility at Hungry Horse Dam. Structure protection work has started around the Spotted Bear Ranch, Diamond R Ranch and Spotted Bear Ranger Station Compound.

While rain did not hit these fires, the cooler temperatures allowed firefighters to construct more fuel breaks and do structure assessments. As temperatures rise, fire managers expect more active fire behavior, with the possibility of high winds on Wednesday.

Big Knife Fire

Rain over the Big Knife Fire east of Arlee moderated fire behavior and gave firefighters time to start building containment lines along the mountainous terrain around the fire. The fire started by lightning on July 24, and has scorched more than 4,000 acres as of Aug. 5.

Containment reached 5% last week, mainly along the western front of the fire near homes. The fire has made significant runs into the Jocko area, entering the Jocko Primitive Area and nearing the Rattlesnake Wilderness.

The fire is being managed by the Salish and Kootenai Tribes. Almost 550 firefighters have been spread out between the Big Knife Fire, the Niarada and Mill Pocket Fires.

With the rain, the fire has been mainly smoldering, creeping and backing into heavy fuels. Fire managers hope to contain the fire along Jocko Lakes Road to the north while protecting structures, cultural and natural resources in the area.

Fire weather is expected to become more active as humidity levels drop and temperatures rise.

Stadium Creek Fire

The Stadium Creek Fire is burning along the east side of Stadium Creek between Gorge and Cannon Creeks. An Aug. 4 infrared mapping showed the fire at 50 acres.

Most recently the fire made a run north toward the confluence of Stadium and George Creeks. No personnel have been reported for the fire, but the Spotted Bear Ranger District said it will reassess as needed and that firefighter safety is number one.

There are local closures in place for the Gorge Creek drainage area, including National Forest Trails 105 and 107.