Pair of wildfires currently burning on Flathead National Forest

Flathead National Forest firefighters are battling two wildfires in remote sections of the Swan Mountain Range.

According to information from Flathead officials, the Lion Creek Fire was reported Tuesday, Aug. 11, burning in heavy timber and brush on steep slopes, about 6 miles east of Montana 83 and southwest of Swan Peak. Lightning is the cause of the blaze.

The fire is burning approximately 1 mile outside the Bob Marshall Wilderness and 4 miles from Department of Natural Resources and Conservation land.

The fire was initially reported at 4 acres on the morning of Tuesday, Aug. 11, but by Wednesday had grown to 75 acres. As of Tuesday, Aug. 18, the fire was listed at 118 acres.

Fire managers expected more growth with hotter, drier conditions before cooler temperatures were forecast for the end of the week.

Tuesday, Flathead area fire managers moved the fire danger rating to very high.

The danger rating is elevated for the Flathead National Forest, Glacier National Park, the DNRC Swan Unit, Stillwater Unit, and Kalispell Unit, and other local state lands. As a whole, Flathead County is also at a very high fire danger.

Fire managers move the fire danger rating to very high when fires start easily from all causes, immediately after ignition, spread rapidly and increase quickly in intensity.

Very high fire danger means that people should think twice before starting a campfire or working with heavy equipment during the heat of the day. The public should double check that chains aren’t dragging behind vehicles and pay attention to wind and other local factors that could cause a campfire to escape.

“We’ve responded to multiple escaped campfires in the past two weeks,” said Flathead National Forest Hungry Horse District Fire Management Officer Andy Huntsberger. “Stick close to your barbeques, make sure your campfire is dead out when you leave, and make sure to extinguish cigarettes completely. Give us a hand in the coming weeks as we reach peak fire season.”

The Lion Creek Fire was spotted Aug. 11 when a Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation helicopter saw the blaze on its way to another fire assignment. The U.S. Forest Service immediately sent ground crews and helicopters for initial attack. Due to its remote location and no roads, it took ground crews approximately three hours to hike to the fire.

Once there, firefighters were only able to engage the fire in a limited manner due to falling snags and steep, rugged terrain, according to National Forest officials.

Helicopter resources were able to moderate fire spread, accessing a nearby lake for water and quick turnaround times.

Right now, it’s burning in very steep terrain prone to rolling rocks and debris. It’s difficult for both safety and logistics for firefighters to access directly.

Ground crews planned to take advantage of natural barriers to reduce fire spread. They’ve completed on-the-ground evaluations to inform a future strategic plan should the fire move westerly toward the Montana 83 corridor and additional values at risk.

Those crews included a Type 1 hotshot crew and a type 2 initial attack crew. Firefighters also continue to monitor the fire by air.

The area is known for the development of nighttime thermal belt activity due to its location and elevation. Some nighttime burning activity is expected. Initial attack resources are working on securing the south flank of the fire and maintaining access on the Lion Creek Trail to allow backcountry users to leave the area.

Aug. 12, two additional hand crews, several advanced fallers and two helicopters were aiding in suppression efforts. The Lion Creek Trail area is closed, and nearby Forest Service roads are also closed.

People in the Swan Valley may see some smoke, though right now fire managers expect that much of the smoke will blow east into the Bob Marshall Wilderness due to wind patterns.

The area is not heavily visited, but visitors to Van Lake, located 7 miles away, should be aware that Lion Creek Trail #25 is closed. People can map the fire location using the latitude/longitude 47 40.644-113 38.274.

The Forest Service expects this fire may require a longer duration response due to its location and the difficulties it presents with access, steep terrain, falling snags and heavy forest fuels.

This year, due to COVID-19, the Forest Service is using aggressive initial attack, supported by available air tankers and helicopters wherever possible to extinguish wildfires quickly and minimize the need to bring large numbers of firefighters together.

Fire managers understand the potential complications wildfire smoke may cause for COVID-19 patients and others with respiratory issues. The Forest will work closely with communities to assist with forecasting and preparation for wildfire smoke.

So far this summer, the Flathead National Forest has responded to nearly 20 fires on Forest Service managed lands. The Lion Creek blaze and the Garnet Fire are the only two currently burning in the Flathead National Forest so far this year.

The Garnet Fire, which was spotted Saturday, Aug. 15 by a fire lookout, was listed at 125 acres Monday. It was also caused by lightning.

It’s burning in heavy timber in a remote part of the Bob Marshall Wilderness at about 8,000 feet several miles east of Montana 83 and northwest of Big Salmon Lake.

According to Flathead National Forest officials, crews are working to protect backcountry infrastructure such as bridges and cabins.

The area is difficult to access, with heavy fuels and high potential for falling snags and is bordered in many areas by regeneration from previous recent fires.

The Forest has closed trails in the Little Salmon Creek drainage to protect public safety. Aerial monitoring flights will continue due to the fire’s remote location to evaluate fire movement.

Both Lion Creek and Garnet wildfires are well established in heavy timbers and the Forest expects they will burn in some capacity until snow arrives this fall.

For information on how to prepare for wildfire season, contact the Community Preparedness Specialist for the Kalispell Unit of the DNRC at 406-751-2270.