Miller Peak fire remains contained, but new wildfires ignite

The largest fire in the area, the Miller Peak fire southeast of Missoula and west of Clinton, showed minimal growth throughout the week. By Friday morning, the fire had reached 2,660 acres and was 25% contained. A map of the fire perimeter indicated that the fire had not significantly expanded beyond its initial size at the beginning of the week. 

“There has been no increase in acreage for the fire,” stated fire managers on Friday. “Crews in the area have transitioned to ‘mop-up’ and patrol status, while also assisting with new fire starts in the vicinity.”

Moreover, a significant number of new fires were ignited across Missoula, Bitterroot, and Mission Valley following a severe thunderstorm that brought lightning and strong winds to the region. These new fires joined the existing ones sparked by earlier storms from the week. 

The U.S. Forest Service and Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Division of Fire provided updates on the fires in the region on Friday. Glacier National Park officials also shared an update on a fire within the park. 

The Muir Creek fire was first identified on Tuesday night on the west flank of Mount Saint Nicholas in Glacier National Park. By Thursday, the fire had grown to 30 acres, prompting the closure of certain trails in the area. Helicopter rappellers were deployed for initial firefighting efforts, but the fire expanded to 30 acres despite their efforts.

Closer to Missoula, a new wildfire was discovered in the Rattlesnake National Recreation Area on the Lolo National Forest. The Fraser fire was located near Fraser Creek, northwest of the Rattlesnake Trailhead, and was reported to be 0.8 acres by Friday morning, down from the initial estimate of 2 acres.

Firefighters were able to contain the Frasier fire by early Friday afternoon, with assistance from local and regional resources, as well as air support. 

Other fires in the region, such as the Double Arrow Lookout fire, Dry Cottonwood fire, Mile Marker 11 fire, South Fork Fish fire, South Fork Petty fire, Wildhorse fire, and Silcox Park fire were also contained or extinguished by firefighting crews.

Additional wildfires were reported on the Bitterroot National Forest, with several fires being declared as extinguished by Friday afternoon. Mop-up operations were ongoing for fires like the Deer Hollow fire, Johnson fire, and Railroad fire.

On the Flathead Reservation, the Division of Fire provided updates on fires like the Garceau fire, Haymaker fire, Mill Pocket fire, and Sullivan fire, all of which were ignited by lightning and being actively managed by firefighting resources.