West Garceau Fire affects Hot Springs
<p>The line of fire on the North ridge in Hot Springs set an orange glow against the night sky Tuesday, Aug. 14. </p>
HOT SPRINGS - The West Garceau Fire got its start near the little town of Hot Springs, according to authorities, late Monday night and it was the Hot Springs volunteer fire department that was part of the initial attack on the blaze.
Hot Springs Volunteer Fire Department chief Randy Woods, who is also the mayor of Hot Springs, said the fire began Monday and he and his crew went up to the ridge to contain it; however, due to high winds and a cold front, the fire has now spread over the ridge and out of their fire district.
"It burned through what we call Windy Gap, and on over the ridge Monday," Woods said. "Them on Tuesday, around 5 pm, it made a big run over the ridge towards Polson and around 1 am, the winds picked up and blew some of it back to the Hot Springs side of the ridge."
Woods then described his actions taken once the fire spread out of his fire district.
"I contacted Tribal Fire, since our fire districts border each other, and they immediately sent out equipment," Woods said. "We had three type-6 fire trucks on it and one water tender. They sent out SEAT drops and helicopters, it grew really fast really quick."
The fire now burns at 9,500 acres and is closer to Polson.
"It was interesting how it doubled in size in the middle of the night like that," Woods said. "But the wind came through, and it was out of our district in minutes. Tribal has taken it over, and we did what we could."