Small fire on Lion Mountain quickly contained Saturday evening

Fire crews quickly contained a small wildfire on Lion Mountain near Whitefish on Saturday.

The blaze was first reported at 7:19 p.m. and was located between the Whitefish Trail and Skyles Lake.

Montana DNRC responded with two engines, a helicopter and an airplane for spotting, while Whitefish Fire Department firefighters responded with two engines and a tender. The helicopter scooped water from Skyles Lake to douse the blaze while crews on the ground built a line around the perimeter.

The blaze was held to approximately 0.25 acres in size.

Whitefish Fire Department Captain Justin Woods said the cause of the fire remains undetermined, however all signs point to it being human caused.

"There was no lightning in the area and no ignition sources nearby," Woods said.

The fire comes amid a heat wave that has cast near triple-digit temperatures in the Flathead Valley for the last two weeks. 

"All the fuels are super dry," Woods warned. "We were lucky it was not windy -- the potential was pretty real."

He said the department is focused on aggressive initial attacks on every wildfire.

Fire Danger is currently rated as high on the Flathead Forest, however no restrictions are in place. Still, Woods reminded people to be cautious with potential ignition sources.

"Particularly with smoking cigarettes or marijuana," he said. "It should be in an area with no combustibles."

Other common ignition sources are hot chainsaws or motorcycles, and campfires should be doused with water.

    Whitefish Fire Department firefighters work with Montana DNRC crews to build a fire line on Lion Mountain after a small fire cropped up Saturday, July 20, 2024. (Whitefish Fire Department photo)
  

    A helicopter with a water bucket scoops water from Skyles Lake and transports it to a small fire on Lion Mountain on Saturday Evening. (Matt Baldwin/Whitefish Pilot)