CSKT fire to clear 3,000 acres of land before winter

Ronan fire personnel responded to a Timberlane Road home at about 8:30 p.m. Saturday after a homeowners attic caught fire, Mark Clarey, Ronan fire chief said.

The fire, which was doused quickly and took out a portion of the homeowners ceiling ignited around some wood-stove piping that fell away from its proper position.

“They were pretty lucky,” Clarey said. “It could have been worse.”

Clarey said the fire stands as a reminder to everyone to clean their chimneys and ensure they are properly cared for.

In walls that extend into the attack, Clarey said residents need three-wall piping, particularly for wood stoves, and that proper materials must be installed and operating around piping.

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes burned flash deck piles at their logging sites for several days last week, Darrell Clairmont Tribal Division of Fire fuel manager said.

The spot fires, located above Fulkerson Corner on the south east end of Flathead Lake, consisted of branches and tree tops left over from Tribal logging in the area through the past few years, he said. In all, Clairmont said Tribal fire crews will try to clean between 2,000 and 3,000 acres of land.

The job, which is not yet complete will continue throughout the seasons depending on weather conditions.

Tribal firefighters cannot burn fuel if the ground is too wet or too dry, he said.

Tribal firefighters burn excess fuel periodically to eliminate extra pilings and plan to continue with the project during the winter and early spring, he said.