Evacuations ordered for fire south of Eureka

Sparked by lightning Monday night, a 500-acre wildfire was brewing south of Eureka. The fire was burning in the northeast canyon above Hood Drive according to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.

Evacuations were ordered early Tuesday morning for Sherman Creek Road, Griffith Creek Road, Therriault Creek Road, North Stevens Creek Road and the Graves Creek Road and a pre-evacuation notice was issued for East Glenn Lake Road to Stevens Road.

Monday night saw dry thunderstorms roll through the area, including Glacier National Park and the North Fork of the Flathead.

Park spokeswoman Lauren Alley said there have been smoke reports in the Belton Hills and in Big Prairie up the North Fork, though no confirmed fires as of presstime.

The Flathead Valley has smoky skies Tuesday morning, making fires difficult to spot.