100 firefighters battle St. Regis blaze

SOUTH TAMARACK — Firefighters are battling a 13-acre blaze six miles north of St. Regis using air and ground resources to set a perimeter around the area. Forest service officials estimate the fire is at five percent containment as of Saturday morning.

Sources told the Clark Fork Valley Press that at least 100 firefighters are expected to work in the area over the weekend, and possibly into the week.

Three Hot Shot crews—from Lolo, Helena, and Kalispell—were on the scene Friday evening. Firefighters worked on getting a saw line and hand line around the fire.

Lolo Hot Shot Superintendent Tim Laroche told the Clark Fork Valley Press that the fire had the potential to spread due to the steep terrain and dry weather conditions.

“There’s concern for rollover,” Laroche said on Friday night driving to a spot to get a visual on the smoke. “It’s burning mixed conifer trees and heavy deadened down on the ground.”

Laroche said crews have established a route from South Fork Tamarack Road to the scene. “It’s about a half-hour walk,” he said.

On Friday, fire managers reported good results in working toward full containment of the fire, according to a release on Saturday morning.

According to forest officials, firefighters will continue to reinforce existing hand line—an 18-inch trench that separates deadened down from the burning area. Aircraft will be used as needed to manage spot fire activity.

Jim Ward, a district fire management officer, said aircrafts made numerous drops on Friday, including a single-engine air tanker (SEAT), and four helicopter drops. One air support group came from Grangesville, Idaho. Ward said the air support group is using the airport in Ronan as a temporary base.

“There’s been air support all day,” Ward said.

One Type II Initial Attack crew, one Type I helicopter, one Type II helicopter, and one Type III helicopter are making bucket drops as well as air craft dropping fire retardant.

Officials are discouraging any drone activity to be flown near the area. “If drones are spotted near a wildfire, firefighting aircraft may have to land due to safety concerns,” according to a statement.

The Flathead Hot Shots arrived Friday around 8 p.m. traveling from Glacier Park. Beau Richardson, a crew member said. “We got the call at 1300 hours—and came down here,” he said, adding that 21 firefighters made the trip. Three heavy-duty Flathead Hot Shot vehicles were parked in an area just below South Fork Tamarack Road.

Richardson said that the crew was waiting for further instructions, and that they were going to camp out in the area. He said they brought supplies for over three days, adding that due to the rapidly fading light, there was a possibility they would begin work first thing Saturday morning.