Fire north of Whitefish Lake contained

Crews have contained a small wildfire north of Whitefish Lake ignited by a dry thunderstorm Tuesday evening.

A line has been established around the quarter-acre fire near Bear Creek and crews are currently mopping up. Engines from the Tally Lake District and Department of Natural Resources were dispatched to the scene.

The fire is burning in grass, brush and timber. Bear Creek runs across Upper Whitefish Lake Road and into Swift Creek.

The dry thunderstorm Tuesday evening ignited at least four wildfires on the Flathead National Forest. The Kalispell Interagency Dispatch Center estimates there were 139 lightning strikes overnight.

Multiple fires in the Hay Creek Complex are burning in the North Fork area. A fire on Akinkoka Peak is 7 acres. The Hay Creek No. 1 fire is 2 to 4 acres, and the Hay Creek No. 2 is a quarter-acre.

All three are burning in steep and rocky terrain with no road access.

Multiple aircraft are supporting these incidents. Single-engine air tankers from Ronan have made drops today.

A 1 acre fire is burning in the Spotted Bear Ranger District on Trap Mountain. The fire is burning in timber and being managed for multiple objectives including allowing the natural role of fire in wilderness.

The fire danger has been elevated to “high” in the greater Flathead Valley area. Weather forecasts call for 10 days of hot afternoon temperatures and possible dry thunderstorms.

A fire danger rating of high means:

• All fine dead fuels ignite readily and fires start easily from any cause.

• Unattended brush and campfires are likely to escape.

• Fires spread rapidly and short-distance spotting is common.

• High intensity burning may develop on slopes, or in concentrations of fine fuel.

• Fire may become serious and their control difficult unless they are hit hard and fast while small.