Wildfires continue to burn around region

Copper King fire burning eight miles east of Thompson Falls, started on Sunday, July 31. As of August 7 it has reached 1,398 acres. There were 389 firefighters on the scene and the fire is five percent contained. No evacuation orders as of Sunday.

The Roaring Lion Wildfire, burning south of Hamilton in the Bitterroot valley has burned over 8,200 acres. On July 31, two more homes were lost in the fire, bringing the total number of lost residences to 16. Additionally 49 outbuildings and non-residential structures have been damaged by the fire which started on Sunday, July 31. Residence have been evacuated, with some able to return to their homes. The fire was 25 percent contained with over 745 personnel on the scene as of August 7. The fire is located in the Bitterroot National Forest, five miles southwest of Hamilton and is no threat to the Lolo National Forest in Mineral County, said Carole Johnson.

The South Tamarack Fire is contained and currently being monitored, said Johnson. They are in the mop-up stage of the fire which had burned 13 acres six miles north of St. Regis. The lightning induced fire started on Sunday, July 31.

On July 26, the Superior Volunteer Fire Department, along with Forest Service personnel, responded to a lightening caused brush fire near Pardee Creek Road. The fire was quickly contained and burned less than an acre.

On August 1 crews were on the scene of a small wildfire on Bible Lane near Alberton. Forest Service, Frenchtown Fire Department, and the Missoula County Sheriff’s Deputies were on the scene. The fire was contained quickly and burned less than an acre.

On Friday, August 5, two small lightning caused fire were reported. One was on the nine-mile border near Ellis Creek. It burned four acres and crews were making good progress on the fire, according to Johnson.

The other fire was near Cascade Falls, near Highway 135, which had burned nearly ten acres since Friday.

On August 5, Forest Service personnel also responded to a small fire caused by the railroad at the cutoff on Highway 135 going toward Plains. Crews managed to get the fire out immediately, according to Johnson.