Fire restrictions lifted after rainstorm

Two days of healthy rainfall and cool temperatures across Western Montana brought an abrupt end to fire restrictions, while some public closures and evacuation notices were lifted.

Flathead, Lake and Sanders counties last week transitioned from stage 2 fire rules to no restrictions at all. Glacier National Park, the Flathead Reservation and the Flathead and Kootenai national forests lifted all fire restrictions as well.

Both mountain and valley locations recorded impressive rainfall totals from the rare August rainstorm.

Flattop Mountain in Glacier National Park and Big Mountain near Whitefish both picked up more than 3 inches of precipitation between Tuesday and Thursday morning. Columbia Falls recorded 2.7 inches, Whitefish 1.87 inches and Kalispell 1.34 inches, according to data from the National Weather Service in Missoula.

Kalispell recorded 2.95 inches of rain in August, well above the 0.73 average for the month.

Crews were working to clear a mudslide in Glacier National Park that crossed North Lake McDonald Road on Wednesday. The road has been closed to the public all summer due to a bridge replacement project.

The excessive moisture allowed the Flathead County Sheriff's Office to remove all evacuation notices and orders for residences affected by the Ridge, Doris Point and Tin Soldier fires near Hungry Horse Reservoir. Sheriff Brian Heino also removed notices and orders for the East Fork Fire near Olney.

Also on Thursday, public access was reopened to portions of the Hungry Horse Reservoir.

Rainfall totals were not as significant over the River Road East Fire in Sanders County, however crews were successful in expanding containment lines. The fire east of Plains was sized at 17,227 acres with 35% containment. More than 600 firefighters remained on the incident, including six helicopters.

The Flathead River closure from the Perma Bridge to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes boundary was lifted on Wednesday.