Northwest Montana Faces Heightened Wildfire Risk Due to Hot Weather

The developing weather pattern may also prompt NorthWestern Energy to activate its new Public Safety Power Shutoff policy. The power utility announced it was in “monitoring” stage on Tuesday, opening a 72-hour window of notice that it may turn off electrical service if fire conditions warrant. NWE’s strategy moves through monitoring, watch, warning, and alert — the stage where a power outage is scheduled for a specific area.

A trio of small fires sparked in the Sapphire Mountains east of Hamilton Monday night, including the Gird Point fire, which drew a team of smokejumpers in response Tuesday. Each was reported at less than an acre in size Tuesday afternoon. Similar ignitions were reported near Potomac and Lincoln.

National Weather Service forecasts call for widespread haze and high temperatures around Missoula through mid-week. But Tuesday and Wednesday’s triple-digit highs should break on Thursday. A period of showers Wednesday night should result in clear skies and highs of 92 on Thursday, with a possible drop to 84 on Friday.

However, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks announced that hoot-owl restrictions are now in place for the North Fork of the Flathead River starting Wednesday. The restriction, which prohibits fishing between 2 p.m. and midnight, is intended to protect cold-water trout from harm as water temperatures exceed their tolerance. 

The North Fork joins the South and Middle Forks of the Flathead, mainstem Flathead, Swan and Thompson rivers in northwest Montana limited by hoot owl rules. Most other trout rivers in western Montana, including the Clark Fork, Bitterroot and Blackfoot, are also hoot-owl restricted.

The Butler Creek fire northwest of Missoula was estimated at 307 acres on Tuesday, with 15% containment that morning. The human-caused fire was already undergoing mop-up work on some sections after intense control efforts on Monday. Crews were concentrating on its north and west edges to extinguish hot spots and finish containment lines.

Evacuation orders on the Butler Creek fire remain active for residents on LaValle Creek Road and the west side of Butler Creek Road from LaValle Creek Road to Timberline Ridge. Residents north of Timberline Ridge and on the east side of Butler Creek Road are under an evacuation warning, meaning they should be prepared to leave immediately if conditions change. Evacuation orders have been downgraded to warnings for residents in the Indreland and Buffalo Speedway areas, including Kit Lane, Karamu Lane, Patinella Court and Brow Tine Drive.

Butler Creek remains closed to non-local traffic and residents are asked to use the roads only for necessary travel. The Red Cross evacuation shelter has been closed.

The Miller Peak fire west of Missoula saw only minimal growth on Monday night, with crews reporting 25% containment. It measured about 2,581 acres. However, hot, gusty and dry conditions were expected to dominate Tuesday’s airshed.