More than 4,500 acres burned on Flathead Reservation last week

By MEGAN STRICKLAND

For the Lake County Leader 

People were reminded to use caution last week as the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Division of Fire worked to put out several fires burning on the Flathead Reservation.

According to fire information officer Devlin Lafrombois, the biggest of the fires was the Racehorse Gulch fire, which was started by lightning on Aug. 5. Lafrombois said the fire, which is burning in the Ferry Basin area, started on state lands and burned onto tribal property. As of Friday, more than 4,500 acres had burned. No structures were threatened.

At one point more than 160 people, including five 20-person hand crews, 10 smokejumpers, and two bulldozers were working to contain the fire, which was 50 percent contained as of Friday.

“The two days of rain that we got the other day helped out a lot,” Lafrombois said. The weather has been favorable. They’ve got a good handle on it.”

Lafrombois urged the public to be careful when driving in high grass, or partaking in other activities that could start a fire. In addition to the Racehorse Gulch fire, six other fires burned 66 acres on the reservation last week.

“This is still peak fire season,” Lafrombois said. “Be careful off-roading, driving in the tall grass. The weather is supposed to get back into the upper 80s. Be careful when out recreating.”