Page 12 - Mill Pocket News Today

“Extreme” fire danger and increased restrictions follow weekend of dry lightning

HELENA, Mont. - Fire crews are battling wildfires throughout western Montana amid hot and dry weather.

Ke County and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes adopted Stage 2 fire restrictions and Flathead County commissioners declared a state of emergency Tuesday in the midst of a host of wildfires that have burned more than 20,000 acres of land in the area in recent days.

Command of the Niarada Fire west of Elmo was turned over to the Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3 on Wednesday morning.

UPDATE, AUG. 2:

Smoke came primarily from a swath of fires burning locally in western Montana and Idaho.

The Big Knife Fire jumped the Big Knife Drainage on Tuesday and has now burned 2,000 acres.

Here is the latest on the largest of the 5 dozen or so fires currently burning in Montana. Information gathered from InciWeb and other sources: ROGERS PASS

UPDATE, AUG. 2:

High winds that have picking up in the afternoon hours are continuing to push two wildfires east towards Elmo.