Man dies trying to put out runaway fire

A 66-year-old Columbia Falls man died of an apparent heart attack while trying to put out a fire that had gotten out of control April 2 and run into a Bonneville Power Administration power line easement across Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. property.

The body of William Meeks was discovered the next morning. Flathead County fire service area manager and fire warden Lincoln Chute said the fire had grown to more than 30 acres by the time firefighters responded on April 2 and daylight was running out. With the fire already in timber, increasing the risk of trees falling on firefighters, he said he pulled the crews out until the next morning.

Twenty-five firefighters from Columbia Falls, Badrock, Martin City, Hungry Horse, Evergreen, Marion, Blankenship and the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation responded to the fire with six engines and one water tender.

Access was limited to a steep BPA power line road. High voltage lines through the easement provided power from the Hungry Horse Dam and Hot Springs to the CFAC smelter when it was running.

Chute said strong winds kicked up the grass fire, and large slash piles from past logging projects soon caught fire. He said heavy dry fuels contributed to the size of the fire, which grew to about 40 acres. At one point, the fire was moving toward some houses near the CFAC property, which is across the Flathead River from the smelter plant.

With open burning season in effect, Meeks was not required to get a permit. Meeks also did not call in the fire. Chute, who’s been with the Badrock fire department for 18 years, said he noticed thick smoke in the area on April 2, got a key to the power line road gate and headed out to the area. The pager went off as he was on his way.

No property was damaged other than burnt trees, and no firefighters were injured, Chute said. Some rain on April 4 helped, and Badrock firefighters had it on patrol status by April 5.