Fires continue to burn in NW Montana
<p>A Forest Service worker clears brush to help create a path for crews to create a fire-line to contain the Little Joe Fire near St. Regis.</p>
MINERAL COUNTY – Level three evacuations were in place last week for an area west of Alberton and south of Interstate 90 that included the Hole-in-the-Wall Ranch and several residences as the West Fork Fish Creek fire grew to over 12,000 acres and was threatening structures.
Several trailers loaded with livestock and other animals could be seen leaving the area before Mineral County Sheriff’s deputies and Forest Service law enforcement closed off the road.
Mineral County Sheriff Tom Bauer said the precautions were put into effect when the fire suddenly grew overnight and began encroaching on structures in the area.
Bauer said fire officials believe the fire started as a result of a lightning strike last weekend but did not represent a hazard to the public until last Thursday.
Hole-in-the-Wall Ranch General Manager Jason Cataldo said, as of last Friday, the fire had grown significantly to approximately 2900 acres but was not currently threatening the facility.
Cataldo said fire officials told him the fire was moving away from the resort but that level III evacuation orders were still in effect.
“It was creeping down the hill,” Cataldo said. “You never know what it’s going to do. We will just have to wait and see what happens. We did get all the animals and some equipment out.”
Cataldo said wildland firefighters were setting up sprinklers for structure protection and did have a type II incident management team working on the fire.
“Resources are really limited but they are doing the best they can with what they have,” Cataldo said.