breaking news

Professor Dies in Boise Wildfire That Destroyed 10 Homes

A tragic story this morning in Boise just hit the wires: Authorities have found a body in a burned Boise home after a quick-moving grass fire destroyed 10 homes in the southeast section of the city last night.

KTVB in Boise has the breaking story.

Update: The Idaho Statesman's Patrick Orr reports that the body is likely that of Mary Ellen Ryder, a Boise State University professor who had been missing since her house in Columbia Village burned -- the same house where authorities found the body.

During fire season in the West, mass evacuations can seem commonplace, overly cautious even -- especially when year after year, hundreds upon thousands of people evacuate from Western wildfires and often, nothing happens, to them or to their homes. But this is a stark reminder of just how important those evacuations plans can be and how we cannot be lulled by the routine of fires in our backyards -- a very sad reminder.

"The Con Crew"

Inmates Find Freedom Fighting Fire

The night before leaving to fight a wildfire, Tiffany Crow Shoe lies awake in bed, his heart punching against his chest. It's the end of July, but for Crow Shoe, it feels like Christmas Eve.

He closes his eyes and sees wild flames torching up into tree crowns. Chain saws roar, making room for firefighters to hump line around the perimeter. Crews chase the fire as it climbs up the mountain.

It's organized chaos, and it makes Crow Shoe feel alive. And free. He's been waiting and preparing for this all year.

From The New West Blog

Defending Homes from Wildfire Costs Montana Millions

Defending homes from wildfires in Montana is costing the state millions extra, and it's only going to get worse as more residents settle in the wildland-urban interface, according to a new report by Bozeman-based Headwaters Economics.

"We're very confident our data supports (that) homes do, indeed, contribute to fire suppression costs," Patty Gude of Headwaters Economics told members of the Legislature's Fire Suppression Interim Committee, which met in Great Falls Wednesday.

Missoula Valley Air “Unhealthy” Thanks to Idaho Fires

It smells like late summer in the Missoula Valley today (or what late summer usually smells like around here). The smoky skies, which have been relatively unfamiliar this summer, are likely thanks to several large fires burning in Idaho.

The Missoula City County Health Department this morning deemed the air quality in Missoula "unhealthy." And in a quick peek at this satellite image from this morning, (I've marked where Missoula is with a red check mark) you can see from where the majority of the smoke in the region is coming. The Snow Hole fire is the largest fire at 2,900 acres. It's just about due West of Missoula on the near the western Idaho border. But the ones putting up the big smoke in this snapshot are the Rattlesnake (30 miles West of Darby, Mont.) at 2,600 acres, the most southern on this image, the Porcupine, at 300 acres near Elk City, Idaho on the Nez Perce National Forest and the 500-acre Moose Creek Wildland Fire Use fire southwest of Powell, Idaho.

Click here for updated smoke maps and here for more large fire maps.

guest commentary

Montana Fires and Soil: Thinking About the Next Generation

News coverage of wildland fires -- whether the 20th anniversary of the fires in Yellowstone National Park or coverage of recent fires in Montana -- is back on the front pages. While many of the anniversary stories have focused on the regeneration of lodgepole pine, aspens, and wildlife habitat, few reports have focused on the role of these fires in the long-term condition of the soils cradling the trees and habitat.

Every farmer and gardener understands the importance of keeping soils productive. But in the case of forest soils, few consider what is necessary to keep these soils healthy and productive. Interestingly, dead and decaying trees in a forest environment play a crucial role in the health of Montana's forest soils. And while no gardener would ever imagine burying trees in the soil, forest soils are quite different than garden soils and deserve special consideration.

breaking news

Twelve Small Fires Contained Along Hwy 12 Near Lolo

Twelve small fires, ranging in size "from two feet to two acres," flared up along a 1.5-mile stretch of Highway 12 near Lolo Friday, apparently the result of a vehicle's mechanical failure, said Cindy Super, fire prevention coordinator for the DNRC, but they were quickly doused and Hwy 12 has reopened.

"They're basically just cleaning things up right now," said Super.

No sparks, please

SW Idaho is Red Hot Dangerous

Wildfire danger is at its highest in Southwest Idaho and a red flag warning from the National Weather Service is flying high. It could drop to orange as early as Friday, but critical fire conditions are the status quo.

Put together the heat, low humidity, strong winds and possible lightening storms and the potential for sudden and explosive fires is very high.

UPDATE: Just an hour after this was posted, a fire in the Boise foothills broke out suddenly and crept toward Hillside Jr. High before being put out. Fire investigators said it was caused by the spontaneous combustion of some rags a man had been using to stain his deck. Just some oily rags sitting around, minding their own business.... everybody go check the garage.

Last summer’s fires in Idaho and Montana started under similar conditions.

Thunderstorms with gusty winds are supposed to move through today, with the chance only 20% for Friday.

resort and 90 homes evacuated

Cascade Fire Nears Red Lodge Ski Resort

Wind has helped the Cascade Fire, burning near Red Lodge, grow to 9,411 acres, an increase of about 3,000 acres from yesterday, said Marge McCarty, a fire information officer.

The fire, now 5 percent contained, has advanced on its northeast side and come to within a half to a quarter mile of Red Lodge Ski Resort, which along with about 90 homes in the Grizzly Peaks area, have been evacuated. But the West Fork drainage of Rock Creek, where the fire was first reported July 26, has not seen much advancement, McCarty said.

About 600 people are working on the fire. Helicopters continue to drop water today after dropping 15,000 gallons on the fire yesterday. Dozers and hand crews are making fire line. Structure protection is taking place near the ski resort and residential areas.

The Billings Gazette is regularly updating their coverage and have more details on the fire here.

Expensive Air Shows

The Business and Politics of Firefighting

With fires raging in many parts of California, the Los Angeles Times is running a big series on the growth in wildfires and the cost of containing them. Part one provides lots of interesting detail on just how much those fire camps - a familiar site in Rockies these days - cost to operate. (We're pretty sure that most firefighters aren't sleeping in air-conditioned trailers with chamber-maid service, but some are, apparently.)

Part two is even more interesting, alleging that choppers and air tankers ore often deployed for political reasons, against the better judgement of fire commanders. Last year's Sun Valley blaze is cited as a prime example of a fire where political pressure trumped firefighter judgement.

What's a reasonable amount to spend fighting wildfires? That, ultimately, is the policy question at hand, and kudos to the LA Times (my one-time employer) for providing a lot of solid reporting that helps inform the issue. We look forward to the rest of the series.