My Page: New West Editor
photo gallery
Wildfire Photos: The Black Cat Fire’s Dramatic Run
On Thursday, the Black Cat Fire northwest of Missoula made dramatic runs on two fronts, burning south and west through a mix of grass, brush, and timber and into residential neighborhoods. Firefighters worked through the night to slow the advancing flames and protect structures, but by morning, the fire had grown from an estimated 850 acres to 4,356 acres and one abandoned home, three garages, one shed, and three abandoned mobile homes were lost.
New West photographer Anne Medley documented the day's events in pictures. Click the image to view her slideshow.
[more]
highway 83 reopened
Crews Make Progress on Jocko Lakes Fire Near Seeley
Firefighting efforts on the 24,190-acre Jocko Lakes Fire west of Seeley Lake were "steady and smooth" Wednesday, said fire information officer Lori Wiertsema.
Crews made good progress on the fire's unruly north and south flanks, where most of the activity has been over the past few days. By Wednesday night, the fire was up to 15 percent contained, up from 9 percent Wednesday morning.
Wednesday morning, the majority of the evacuated residents around Seeley Lake adjacent to the fire were allowed to return to their homes, except residents of the following areas: Eagle Point subdivision, Snowmass Drive, Westside Bypass Road (2190), and locations inside the fire perimeter.
In addition, Highway 83 is now open. Officials are asking drivers to exercise caution with the highway being used for fire traffic. The fire is estimated at 24,190 acres.
[more]
just northwest of missoula
Black Cat Fire Runs Southwest, Crews Confident Lines Will Hold
Updated 9:30 p.m. MDT The Black Cat Fire near Evaro, north of Missoula and west of Highway 93, made a run Wednesday night to the southwest with a change of wind and was nearing the drainage to the north of Fred's Lane.
No new evacuations were ordered and fire crews were confident the fire would hold in the drainage overnight behind retardant and contingency lines crews were able to get in early Wednesday, said a recorded message from the fire's information officer Paula Rosenthal. Fire crews from the Frenchtown Rural Fire Department were working overnight to protect homes in the area.
Evacuations remain in effect for residences -- at least 20 -- on the west side of highway 93, south of Bear Grass Mountain Road and North of O'Keefe. Homes on the east side of 93 were issued a pre-evacuation notice Wednesday. The fire remains more than a mile from the nearest homes.
Crews spent most of the day Wednesday on the fire's eastern flank, the side closest to homes (although there are several homes to the north of the fire as well), building line as air support dropped water and retardant to slow the blaze from crossing Highway 93, Rosenthal said earlier Wednesday evening. Dozers working on the north side of the fire also got help from the two helicopters and one air tanker on the fire.
[more]
If conditions continue, mill closures imminent
Fires, Heat, Stymie Plum Creek
COLUMBIA FALLS – The sharp shrill of timber on metal is music to the ears of executives and employees at Plum Creek Timber Company. This summer’s red-hot fire season has them poised to endure an even more piercing sound: production coming to a screeching halt.
The timber company is already anticipating one temporary closure, and if the fire season continues as predicted, another is on the way.
[more]
montana wildfire roundup
Montana Fires Quiet Despite Red Flag ConditionsRed flag conditions were expected to hit wildfires all across Montana Friday, but where they materialized fire lines withstood the wind and low humidities and little growth was reported, and in other areas, they didn't materialize at all. The big news was that more evacuation orders were lifted adjacent to the Jocko Lakes Fire. A fire weather watch is in effect today for most of the Northern Rockies. A roundup after the jump... [more]
a red flag day, but a good day
Jocko Lakes Fire: More Evacuation Orders Lifted
Despite Friday's red flag winds, it was "actually a pretty good day" on the Jocko Lakes Fire west of Seeley Lake, fire information officer Tom Kempton said.
The Archibald Creek area along the fire's northeast flank close to Seeley Lake remained active, but firefighters constructed hose and dozer line and were performing burnout operations there -- "creating a little more black" -- to ensure that the fire won't creep closer to the lake and the many houses on its west side, Kempton said.
Officials feel good enough about the progress that they again modified evacuation orders. As of Friday evening, evacuation orders were conditionally lifted for about 250 residences, on top of the orders lifted Thursday. Now only 60 to 70 of the original 675 evacuated homes remain so.
The fire grew about 700 acres Friday for a total of 19,330 -- about 30 square miles -- with much of the growth again occurring on the south side. The fire remains 10 percent contained. More than 600 personnel were working the blaze Friday.
[more]
New West Event
Mobilizing on the InternetIn the non-profit world, the web is a critical tool for fundraising, organizing and membership development, but you have to know how best to take advantage.
That was the message at NewWest.Net's panel discussion last night with four local and national non-profit leaders at the Missoula Art Museum.
The forum, sponsored by Democracy in Action and Westridge Creative and moderated by NewWest.Net Founder and Publisher Jonathan Weber, explored topics ranging from recruiting new members via the web to how to take donations online.
[more]
montana wildfire roundup
High Winds Expected to Stir Up Montana Fires FridayWildfire activity picked up across Montana Thursday with some thunderstorms passing through. And it's expected to persist with red flag conditions predicted for Friday. Altogether, nearly 300,000 acres are ablaze in Big Sky country.
The nation's top-priority wildfire, the Tin Cup Fire burning about 2 1/2 miles west of Darby in the Bitterroot was estimated at 580 acres Friday morning. A red flag warning is in effect from noon until 9 p.m. Friday, with gusts up to 30 mph expected out of the west, possibly pushing the fire east toward Darby.
"Cross your fingers," said fire information officer Kelly Andersson.
Being at the top of the priority list means resources, planes, engines and firefighters will be sent there first -- if available. Resources are stretched thin, as fires continue to burn across the West.
[more]
