Wildfire races across Montana 28 at Niarada
Vehicles stop along Montana 28 west of Elmo as air resources fly over the Niarada Fire on Sunday, July 30, 2023. (Mackenzie Gress photo)
The Niarada Fire burns west of Elmo on Sunday, July 30, 2023. (Brian Crandell photo)
A map shows the location of new fire starts in Lake and Flathead counties on July 30, 2023.
Vehicles stop along Montana 28 west of Elmo as air resources fly over the Niarada Fire on Sunday, July 30, 2023. (Mackenzie Gress photo)
A wildfire west of Elmo raced across Montana 28 on Sunday, leaving a scorched swath of 5,000 acres in its wake.
The Niarada Fire was fanned to the northeast by gusty winds Sunday evening. Its perimeter on Monday morning extended from south of the highway to across Niarada Lane and Browns Meadow Road to the north. The fire’s west flank hugs the Flathead and Sanders county line.
The fast-moving fire caused the closure of Montana 28 on Sunday afternoon.
Smokejumpers, ground crews and equipment worked to control the fire with air support, according to a Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Division of Fire update Monday morning.
The Niarada Fire was one of many to crop up following a dry lightning storm on Saturday.
The Middle Ridge Fire west of Sloan’s Bridge and Ronan was sized at 7,000 acres on Monday.
The Communication Butte Fire had burned 400 acres north of Dixon in steep terrain along the Moiese Valley. That fire caused the closure of the Bison Range on Sunday.
The Big Knife Fire east of Arlee blew up to 3,000 acres on Sunday. Fire crews were focused on securing control lines on the west flank near homes.
A complex incident management team was ordered to assume command of the fire on Tuesday, Aug. 1.
Meanwhile, the Colt Fire burning north of Seeley Lake continued to draw a massive firefighting response over the weekend.
Nearly 590 firefighters were assigned to the incident that had burned more than 6,100 acres on the Lolo and Flathead national forests as of Monday morning.
Firefighting costs on the Colt Fire topped $11 million, as of Sunday.
AN EMERGENCY shelter for people displaced by wildfires burning in Flathead County opened Sunday night in Kalispell.
Flathead County requested assistance from American Red Cross to operate the shelter at Canvas Church, 255 Summit Ridge Drive, Kalispell.
According to officials with the Flathead County Office of Emergency Services, people displaced by evacuations and in need of lodging should go directly to the church. If volunteers are not readily available, people should call 406-215-1514 and ask for assistance.
Ronan High School is open to evacuees from wildfires in Lake County. The high school is located at 130 3rd Ave. NW in Ronan. The Arlee Community Center at 34806 Pow Wow Road is also serving as am emergency shelter.
Those who plan to use the emergency shelter are advised to take any necessary medications, cell phone chargers, toiletries, flashlights, bedding and anything else they need in order to be comfortable.
