Fire Watch

Three fires burning in the Mission Mountains

Posted: Sep 18, 2012 9:03 PM by Melissa Rafferty - MTN News
Updated: Sep 18, 2012 9:04 PM

PABLO- Three fires burning in the Mission Mountains kicked up a lot of smoke Tuesday.

Confederated Salish Kootenai Tribe Fire manager Curtiss Matt tells us the Mollman Fire, east of Ronan, has burned 88 acres.

The Whitehorse Lake fire, in the South fork of Jocko Drainage has burned 330 acres. Matt says southwest winds really kicked up the fire activity Tuesday, and the road to Floyd Lake remains closed at the Louie Lake junction.

The third fire, Schley Creek fire, east of Arlee, was relatively inactive with minor burning seen, and stands at 65 acres.

All three fires are lightning carryovers from several weeks ago, but the continued dry weather made the fires active. All of the blazes are in remote, high elevation areas.

They are being monitored by air, but no staff is currently working on the fires, according to Matt.

(photo courtesy: Laura Larson)