Blacktail Ridge Fire burns near Plains
<p>A "water scooper" helicopter dumps river water over the Blacktail Ridge Fire Monday afternoon. The crews were working to keep the fire from jumping over Combest Creek.</p>
<p>A helicopter scoops water out of the Clark Fork River Sunday to go dump on the fire up the mountain. </p>
<p>The helicopter flies back towards the river after dumping water on the blaze Sunday afternoon.</p>
PLAINS - The Department of Natural Resource and Conservation is currently fighting a large forest fire located just outside of Plains near Pat’s Knob.
The name of the blaze is Blacktail Ridge Fire, and spans 270 acres as of Monday. It began early Sunday afternoon, and fair-goers beheld the sight of large smoke plumes and aggressive helicopters dipping into the Clark Fork River for water to drop on the spread.
According to DNRC Dispatch, a total of six airborne engines have been sent out to fight the fire, along with ground assistance from the U.S. Forest Service. There are two SEATs, two water scoopers, and two heavy air tankers currently on scene and attacking from above.
Fire investigators also went out to the scene Monday to determine the cause of the fire, which remains unknown at this time.
“It grew a little more last night than we thought it would, but the spread is going as anticipated,” DNRC dispatcher Ned Winebrenner said.
Cooperating agencies include Plum Creek Timber Company, Sanders County Sheriff’s Office, and Sanders County Office of Emergency Services. About 65 personnel are assigned to the fire, with 20-person hand crews. The incident command post for the fire has been established at the Sanders County Fairgrounds.
They seek to take out the fire with full suppression, and the air engines have been flying around Plains and the surrounding area for water; often dipping into the Clark Fork right beside River Road East. According to a press release, the fire is currently burning primarily along eastern aspects in the Combest Creek drainage on DNRC and Plum Creek Timber lands. The fire is currently 20 percent contained.
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