Thirteen homes evacuated in Early Dawn fire

Local firefighters were busy again this weekend, containing the Early Dawn Fire near Big Arm.

The blaze started last Friday, June 27, and was ignited by fireworks according to Polson Rural fire chief Will Woodger. He said 13 homes were immediately evacuated.

Polson Rural Fire responded at around 4 p.m. Friday. The first units to arrive found a fast-moving, wind-driven fire that was traveling upslope and into the timber off Walking Horse Lane.

“It became apparent to us that we were not going to be able to immediately stop the fire and we started calling in additional resources,” Woodger said.

CSKT Division of Fire brought in a bulldozer and began to “anchor, flank and pinch the fire” as aerial resources worked to slow its spread. The fire was moving toward the vicinity of Early Dawn Drive.

The Polson Rural Fire District, with the help of Chief Cliff Fire, Rollins Fire and Polson City, began notifying residents on Early Dawn Drive, Spring Lane and Deer Run Lane to prepare to evacuate.

“With the help of our partner agencies, we were able to triage and place engines at nearly every home in the immediate path of the fire,” Woodger said.

The Lake County Office of Emergency Management had the 911 center send out a phone notification for structures outside of the immediate threat zone to prepare to leave. Those included homes off Walking Horse and the remainder of Early Dawn as well as some locations near Elmo.

As the incident progressed, the wind slowed, enabling firefighters to dig a dozer line around it; retardant drops also helped slow the fire’s spread. At around 1 a.m. Saturday, evacuees were allowed to return to their homes. The fire was mapped at just over 85 acres and as of Monday was 25% contained.

A dozer line surrounds the area, and Woodger said firefighters continue to find hot spots, aided by a thermal drone that provides coordinates to the ground crews.

As of Tuesday, roughly 40 firefighters were at work on the fire with various engines and equipment. 

“We will continue to be vigilant to prevent any flare ups,” Woodger said, noting the Polson Rural is staffing two engines overnight to make sure the blaze doesn’t take off again.

He predicts, given the week’s forecast of hot temperatures, that fire danger will move back to High by the end of the week.

“We urge the public to be cautious while participating in their Fourth of July activities,” he added.