Lightning sparks fires in Blue Bay area
A Type 1 helicopter was on hand to fight a wildfire near Blue Bay Friday after lightning caused the blaze the night before. (Ashley Fox/Lake County Leader)
Multiple aircraft were used Friday to combat two wildfires in the Blue Bay area along Highway 35.
Patches of fire were best seen from Flathead Lake Saturday afternoon as the Blue Bay blaze grew to 38 acres after winds from a weather system caused it to grow.
A bucket of water is dunked into Flathead Lake Saturday afternoon in an effort to contain the wildfire in the Blue Bay area on Highway 35.
A plane disburses fire retardent at the Blue Bay wildfire Saturday. (PHOTO COURTESY CHRIS KELLY)
Aircraft worked to contain the Blue Bay #1 fire Monday evening, which was then at about 50 acres. A second fire was at less than an acre and is 100 percent contained, according to officials.
During a public meeting Monday at the Blue Bay campground regarding the Blue Bay fires along Highway 35, an outline for the next few days was explained by Operations Chief Bob McCrea from the Division of Fire.
Using a map on the wall, McCrea explained his plans for containing the fire, which was about 50 acres at the time of the 7 p.m. meeting.
As of Tuesday morning, the fire was estimated at 55 acres.
The two fires began Thursday night after a storm passed through the area. The larger fire, located across and up the hill from the campground, was visible from various points along Highway 35, but appeared to be around mile markers 13 and 14.
In the first minute of his explanation, McCrea stunned some of the 50 residents when he announced that his crews would be manning a controlled fire through the night.
“If we don’t, then it’s going to do it at some time in the middle of the night on its terms,” McCrea said.
While he shared his plan, two helicopters filled water buckets nearby in Flathead Lake.
McCrea himself smelled of smoke, explaining he had worked at the Jocko fire earlier Monday before traveling to the Blue Bay fires.
He said that he felt “more comfortable” with the way the fire was burning Monday evening compared to how it spread over the weekend.
Cooler temperatures and calmer winds helped the more than 50 firefighters gain the upper hand on containing the wildfire, he explained.
“Mother Nature gave us a chance (Sunday) because of the cool weather... But (she’s) kind of beating us up today, reminding us she’s still in charge,” McCrea said.
Residents asked about their houses scattered throughout the hillside, to which McCrea replied, “You’re fine.”
“If something happens, something weird happens, believe me, we’ll be there to let you know,” he reassured residents.
In addition to the helicopters, McCrea said that one bulldozer and two skidgeons were working to secure a perimeter.
Fire Prevention Specialist with the Division of Fire CT Camel confirmed in an email Tuesday morning that the late-night controlled burn did not happen, and more information on the Blue Bay #1 fire would be forthcoming throughout the day.
Another fire in the Blue Bay area is at less than one acre, McCrea confirmed Monday evening.
Crews had the blaze 100 percent contained, and for the next week there will be firefighters on the ground, patrolling the area for any additional sparks.
Following the Blue Bay meeting, which lasted less than 10 minutes, McCrea said that the larger fire should be contained by the end of the week.
Similar to the public meeting in Arlee at the beginning of August, McCrea stressed that he would not put his firefighters in danger.
On Friday as aircraft and hand crews worked to contain the fires, DOF enlisted the help of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office to keep traffic flowing along Highway 35, and to keep closed roads secure.
At first, pre-evacuations were ordered, according to Sheriff Don Bell.
“When I got the call (early Friday morning), they (Division of Fire officials) were worried about doing evacuations because they didn’t know whether they’d be able to control the fire or not,” Bell said.
Pre-evacuation and evacuation orders were stopped throughout the day, Bell said, but deputies were ready to alert residents if conditions changed.
Bell said that deputies were “prepped and ready” to help fire personnel.
Aircraft dumping water Friday had a four-minute turnaround, Bell said.