Wildfire threatens homes in Lakeside

By SAM WILSON

Daily Inter Lake

Powerful, gusting winds fanned the flames of a new wildfire in a thickly wooded residential area west of Lakeside on Monday, pushing the fire across 80 acres and threatening an estimated 75 to 100 structures within a half-mile of the fire. The Bierney Creek Fire west of Lakeside slowed substantially Monday night after the new wildfire’s wind-driven flames chewed through 80 acres of residential forest Monday afternoon and evening.

Ali Evans, the information officer for the Type 3 Incident Management Team that took over fire operations Tuesday morning, said while heavy air support helped slow Monday’s fire growth Monday, zero containment is reported and 75 to 100 structures still are threatened.

No evacuations have been ordered, although Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation have installed structure protection in the area.

“There are a couple of homes that are surrounded by fire,” Evans said, but added that no structures have been lost.

“Fire behavior was minimal last night, with isolated torching,” she said. “I would say, while there are no mandatory evacuations at this time, people are encouraged to prepare for the possibility.”

The fire started about 2 miles from Lakeside at about 3:30 p.m. Monday, prompting an aggressive response from local, state and federal firefighting agencies Monday. Bulldozers plowed fire lines into the evening and helicopters and planes kept the flames in check throughout the day.

The Bierney Creek Fire is burning up multiple drainages in steep terrain.

Evans said the incident command team was still assessing the situation and developing a plan for full suppression Tuesday morning. The Flathead Hotshots and two firefighting crews will be working the fire Tuesday, with a helicopter, two fire engines and six bulldozers continuing to support the 80 to 100 personnel assigned to the blaze.

“It’s a wildland-urban interface situation, so it’s a complex firefighting situation,” Evans said.

On Monday Evans added that fire activity had decreased significantly.

“It’s pretty well boxed in with retardant drops. The heavy tankers were hitting it pretty hard this evening,” Evans said at 9 p.m. Monday. “They really went aggressive with air operations as the wind died down, we lost the sun and it started cooling off.”

Wind gusts throughout the afternoon pushed thick plumes of smoke along the ridge top where the fire burned, and trees periodically erupted in flame, visible to residents who took photos and video while helicopters and planes continuously buzzed overhead.

Jen and Tanner Dana watched as the setting sun glowed orange behind the curtain of smoke. They were parked alongside a half-dozen cars across a field providing the firefighters’ temporary base of operations.

“My sister-in-law lives right down the road, so we came down to help her evacuate, if necessary,” Jen Dana explained, while Tanner sat atop his car recording the helicopter drops with his new camera.

Neither Dana’s sister-in-law nor any of the other residents in the area had been evacuated, but residents had voluntarily left at least four homes along Lone Wolf Trail. State and local firefighters began structure protection measures throughout the burn area, according to incident commander Nick Merriman, a Kalispell-based state fire chief.

Immediately after the fire was reported, crews from the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and Somers-Lakeside Volunteer Fire Department split management of the firefighting effort. They were joined by responders from the South Kalispell, West Valley and Badrock fire departments, as well as the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office and Office of Emergency Services. Firefighters from Lake County headed to the fire Tuesday morning to help contain it. 

By SAM WILSON

Daily Inter Lake

Powerful, gusting winds fanned the flames of a new wildfire in a thickly wooded residential area west of Lakeside on Monday, pushing the fire across 80 acres and threatening an estimated 75 to 100 structures within a half-mile of the fire. The Bierney Creek Fire west of Lakeside slowed substantially Monday night after the new wildfire’s wind-driven flames chewed through 80 acres of residential forest Monday afternoon and evening.

Ali Evans, the information officer for the Type 3 Incident Management Team that took over fire operations Tuesday morning, said while heavy air support helped slow Monday’s fire growth Monday, zero containment is reported and 75 to 100 structures still are threatened.

No evacuations have been ordered, although Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation have installed structure protection in the area.

“There are a couple of homes that are surrounded by fire,” Evans said, but added that no structures have been lost.

“Fire behavior was minimal last night, with isolated torching,” she said. “I would say, while there are no mandatory evacuations at this time, people are encouraged to prepare for the possibility.”

The fire started about 2 miles from Lakeside at about 3:30 p.m. Monday, prompting an aggressive response from local, state and federal firefighting agencies Monday. Bulldozers plowed fire lines into the evening and helicopters and planes kept the flames in check throughout the day.

The Bierney Creek Fire is burning up multiple drainages in steep terrain.

Evans said the incident command team was still assessing the situation and developing a plan for full suppression Tuesday morning. The Flathead Hotshots and two firefighting crews will be working the fire Tuesday, with a helicopter, two fire engines and six bulldozers continuing to support the 80 to 100 personnel assigned to the blaze.

“It’s a wildland-urban interface situation, so it’s a complex firefighting situation,” Evans said.

On Monday Evans added that fire activity had decreased significantly.

“It’s pretty well boxed in with retardant drops. The heavy tankers were hitting it pretty hard this evening,” Evans said at 9 p.m. Monday. “They really went aggressive with air operations as the wind died down, we lost the sun and it started cooling off.”

Wind gusts throughout the afternoon pushed thick plumes of smoke along the ridge top where the fire burned, and trees periodically erupted in flame, visible to residents who took photos and video while helicopters and planes continuously buzzed overhead.

Jen and Tanner Dana watched as the setting sun glowed orange behind the curtain of smoke. They were parked alongside a half-dozen cars across a field providing the firefighters’ temporary base of operations.

“My sister-in-law lives right down the road, so we came down to help her evacuate, if necessary,” Jen Dana explained, while Tanner sat atop his car recording the helicopter drops with his new camera.

Neither Dana’s sister-in-law nor any of the other residents in the area had been evacuated, but residents had voluntarily left at least four homes along Lone Wolf Trail. State and local firefighters began structure protection measures throughout the burn area, according to incident commander Nick Merriman, a Kalispell-based state fire chief.

Immediately after the fire was reported, crews from the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and Somers-Lakeside Volunteer Fire Department split management of the firefighting effort. They were joined by responders from the South Kalispell, West Valley and Badrock fire departments, as well as the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office and Office of Emergency Services. Firefighters from Lake County headed to the fire Tuesday morning to help contain it.