Fire causes Rocky Point area evacuations

Evacuations were underway late Tuesday afternoon for Masumola Lane/Rocky Shores off of Rocky Point Road due to a wildfire, but by 6 p.m. the fire was knocked down and firefighters were mopping up, according to Lake County Office of Emergency Management. 

The evacuation order was lifted, and fire crews were remaining on the scene overnight to monitor the blaze.

According to an area resident, the fire was located on a 20-acre parcel north of the Masumola clubhouse. 

In addition, thunderstorms that rolled through western Montana last week ignited four fires in the Ravalli and Arlee areas. The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes reports that all were caused by lightning.

The fire danger on the Flathead Indian Reservation has been hoisted back to high.

The Hewolf Fire, located seven miles southwest of Ravalli, had burned around 15 acres of timber and grass with downed fuel. Last week, the CSKT Division of Fire had launched an overhead air attack, with two helicopters and two Single Engine Air Tankers (SEAT), and displatched a hand crew, dozer, two skidgens, and two tenders to work the blaze. There were no closures and no structures were threatened.

The 2600 Road Fire, located five miles southwest of Ravalli, was also burning in timber and grass. “Firefighters were able to get on this fire quickly in the early morning, after it ignited and contain it,” noted Fire Information Officer CT Camel.

St. Ignatius Rural engines were able to squelch the Pine Haven Fire two miles south of St. Ignatius.

The Incident 67 Fire, 11 miles west of Arlee, started in downed fuel on steep, rocky terrain. A Type 1 helicopter was supporting ground forces in the area and no structures were threatened.