Damnation Fire grows quickly in the Bob

The Flathead National Forest reported last week that fire managers were managing four new fires along the South Fork of the Flathead River in the Bob Marshall Wilderness area. All are believed to have been started by lightning strikes on Aug. 11.

Forest Service personnel are contacting hikers, horseback riders and floaters about dangers in this area. Trails that have been closed include Helen Creek Trail No. 100, Mist Trail No. 220, Hodag Creek Trail No. 701 and Mud Lake Lookout Trail No. 470. Other trails remain open, but the Forest Service warns backcountry travelers to be cautious in this area.

• The Damnation Fire is burning on the east side of the South Fork of the Flathead River about four miles south of Black Bear Cabin, which is about eight miles south of the Meadow Creek Campground.

The fire covered about 500 acres on Aug. 16 but quickly grew to 2,242 acres by Monday afternoon. The fire is burning in the Damnation and Lewis creeks drainages in areas burned by the Lewis Fire in 2000.

Fire managers are allowing it to play its natural role in the wilderness, but the increased activity prompted Forest Service crews to set up structure protection for the Salmon Forks cabin and Mud Lake Lookout.

• The Snow Creek Fire is about 38 acres in size and about one mile south of the Black Bear Cabin on the west side of the South Fork of the Flathead River. It is burning in steep, rocky terrain and not moving much. Fire managers are allowing the fire to play its natural role in wilderness.

Fire fighters by Saturday had completed wrapping structures at the Black Bear Cabin with fire-resistant materials, and sprinklers were placed on the Black Bear Bridge and around the corral.

• The Pagoda Fire, about a tenth of an acre, is burning on the south side of Pagoda Mountain, about seven miles east-southeast of Black Bear Cabin. Fire managers might include this fire with its plans for the Damnation Fire.

• The Hodag Fire, also about a tenth of an acre, is burning about a mile north of the Black Bear Cabin on the east side of the South Fork of the Flathead River. Like the Pagoda Fire, it was discovered by fire managers during a helicopter flight on Friday morning, Aug. 16.

• Meanwhile, the Red Shale Fire continues to burn on the Rocky Front about 37 miles west of Choteau. The lightning-caused fire was spotted on July 18 and has grown to 9,367 acres. The Red Shale Fire is burning west of the North Fork of the Sun River and north of Red Shale and Gates creeks in steep, rugged terrain burned by the Gates Park Fire in 1988.

At one point, the Red Shale Fire crossed the North Fork of the Sun River at the mouth of Ray Creek, but water drops by helicopter and cooler, wetter weather slowed it down.

Some trails in the area are closed, and fire personnel have implemented structure protection on the Gates Park pack bridge, Gates Park administrative site, Wrong Creek cabin and Rock Creek cabin.

Flathead Forest officials remind visitors that as firefighting resources are needed to respond to natural wildfires, it becomes even more important for everyone to be thoughtful and careful in their use of fire in the forest.

• Smokejumpers responded Sunday to a tenth-acre fire in the Devine Creek area in the Young’s Creek drainage in the Bob Marshall Wilderness.

The Flathead Forest is not currently under fire restriction regulations, but fire danger is high and a small spark or an unattended fire of any kind can start a wildfire that could quickly spread.

For more information about these fires and others in Montana, visit online at www.inciweb.org.