UPDATE 10:30 p.m July 30, 2023
Montana Red Cross now has four shelters open for those displaced by wildfires burning in western Montana:
Missoula: Cold Springs School, 625 Briggs. St.
Kalispell: Canvas Church, 255 Summit Ridge Drive
Ronan: Ronan High School, 130 3rd Ave. N.W.
Arlee: Arlee Community Center, 34806 Pow Wow Road
UPDATE 8:00 p.m. July 30, 2023
There is a mandatory evacuation for residences near the Niarada Fire east of Elmo in Lake County.
Flathead Office of Emergency Services reports there is a mandatory evacuation for the top of the Pass on Browns Meadow Road South to Highway 28. This mandatory evacuation also includes Kofford Ridge Rd.
Sheriff's Deputies are attempting to go door to door to issue evacuation notices at this time.
UPDATE: 5:30 p.m. July 30, 2023
Below is an update from the CSKT Division of Fire on the three wildfires sparked by Sunday's storms.
The Middle Ridge Fire is burning southwest of Sloan’s Bridge and is about 500+ acres as of this morning. There are no current updates on acreage. There are aircraft water tenders on the scene.
The Communication Butte Fire burning north of Dixon has grown to about 255 acres. This fire is driven by winds pushing toward the Flathead River. A 20-person crew is responding.
The Niarada Fire is 11 miles east of Elmo and has burned around 200 acres. There are 18 smokejumpers managing with aircraft support.
Highway 28 is closed at the junction of Highway 93 and Highway 28 after the fire crossed the road earlier Sunday afternoon.
CSKT Division of fire reports high winds out of the west are persistent across Mission Valley gusting up to 35 mph.
Tribal resources are working with agency partners to respond to new fire starts as they are reported.
First Report
First responders are working three fires and keeping watch for the start of other fires in the Mission Valley, according to a news release from the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes Division of Fire.
The fires were caused by dry lightning that passed through the Mission Valley and surrounding mountains early Sunday morning, the release says.
Crews are responding to the following wildfires:
Middle Ridge: Located southwest of Sloan’s Bridge. It’s approximately 500 acres.
Communication Butte: located north of Dixon in Ferry Basin. The fire is about 100 acres.
Niarada: 11 miles west of Elmo and about five acres.
RELATED | Stay safe as wildfire smoke covers Montana
No buildings are expected to be impacted by the fires, and no evacuation orders have been announced.
A Red Flag Warning is in place for this afternoon from 3 p.m. until 9 p.m., according to the release.
Read full news release below from Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes Division of Fire.
RONAN, Mont. – Dry lightning passed through Mission Valley and surrounding mountains early this morning sparking multiple fires. Resources are responding to three fires and crews are patrolling for other potential fire starts.
Middle Ridge - Southwest of Sloan’s Bridge, approximately 500 acres. Two large air tankers are responding with six water tenders and six skidgens. The fire is burning in grass and timber in steep terrain.
Communication Butte - North of Dixon, Mont. in Ferry Basin, approximately 100 acres. The fire is burning in grass and timber and a 20 person crew is responding. The terrain is very steep and difficult to access.
Niarada – Eleven miles west of Elmo,Mt. approximately five acres. Four single-engine air tankers, one helicopter for air support, three fire boss single-engine air tankers and eight smoke jumpers. The fire is burning in very steep and rugged terrain.
No structures are threatened at this time near the new fire starts. No evacuation are ordered.
A Red Flag Warning is also forecasted for this afternoon beginning at 3 p.m. until 9 p.m. tonight. High wind gusts and low humidity is expected. The public is advised to be aware of emergency vehicles on roadways, as well as very dry grasses that can be easily ignitable.
