Essex evacuation order lifted, Highway 2 reopens

With rain and cooler temperatures over the Sheep Fire, Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry has lifted the mandatory evacuation of Essex, effective 6 a.m. Monday.

In addition, U.S. Highway 2 will reopen through the fire area, with pilot cars escorting vehicles from mile marker 176.8 to mile marker 185, which is from Schellinger Gravel to Bear Creek. Vehicles will not be able to stop in the area.

BNSF trains and Amtrak are running intermittently.

The fire remains about 1/8-mile from the railroad tracks. It has seen cooler and wetter weather since late Saturday night. In addition, a shaded fuel break is completed around the tracks near the Goat Lick and nearly completed to Essex. A shaded fuel break is a fire line where underbrush and small trees are removed, but larger trees remain.

A night shift will continue to monitor fire movement and patrol the Essex area and Walton compound for any encroaching fire activity.

West Glacier has seen about .33 inches of rain since late Saturday night and temperatures have dropped into the mid 50s. Cooler weather is expected through the week, the National Weather Service is predicting.