Montana Wildfire Update For July 08, 2021 mtpr.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from mtpr.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Updated 1:12 p.m., July 11, 2021
The Missoula Sherriff’s office says an evacuation warning along Highway 12 from the Idaho border to Lolo Hot Springs remains in effect due to the Lolo Creek Fire. The warning was issued late Saturday night after the wildfire was first reported around 5 p.m.
According to the Lolo National Forest, the fire is estimated to be 12 acres in size and is burning between mile marker one and two along the Highway 12 corridor. Officials say the fire continues to burn actively in heavy dead and downed timber about a mile west of Highway 12. Officials say if you are traveling along the highway, do not stop.
Updated 4:50 p.m., July 08, 2021.
A series of thunderstorms rumbled across western Montana’s Lolo National Forest Wednesday, where officials recorded over 800 lightning strikes. Firefighters are now working to suppress at least 30 new wildfires on multiple fronts.
The Lolo National Forest’s western-most portion, including the Superior and Plains-Thompson Falls Ranger Districts bore the brunt of Wednesday’s storms. Smoke from some of these fires burning near Superior and St. Regis are clearly visible from nearby Interstate 90.
Lolo National Forest Supervisor Carolyn Upton
“We have fire in proximity to some communities, but there are no immediate threats. We don’t have any evacuations right now. We are actively suppressing many fires in the area and accessing situations as they become known to us,” Upton says.
Severe Thunderstorm Watch until WED 11:00 PM MDT
Weather Alert
.A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 830 PM MDT
FOR CENTRAL BIG HORN.EASTERN MUSSELSHELL.CENTRAL YELLOWSTONE.
NORTHERN ROSEBUD AND WESTERN TREASURE COUNTIES.
At 747 PM MDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from 13 miles northwest of Melstone to 14 miles southwest
of Custer to 11 miles west of Hardin to near Fort Smith, moving east
at 50 mph.
HAZARD.70 mph wind gusts.
SOURCE.Radar indicated.
IMPACT.Expect considerable tree damage. Damage is likely to mobile
homes, roofs, and outbuildings.
Locations impacted include.
Hardin, Custer, Melstone, Huntley, Worden, Fort Smith, Crow Agency,
Robertson Draw Fire
A Montana man pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to sparking the 30,000-acre Robertson Draw Fire south of Red Lodge last month.
The state is charging John Lightburn of Bridger with two counts of felony negligent arson. He’s also accused of misdemeanor criminal mischief. He appeared in Carbon County District Court on Wednesday before Judge Matthew Wald, who continued his bail of $7,500. Lightburn pleaded not guilty to all accusations.
Prosecutors say the 55-year-old sparked the flame when fixing his motorbike in an area of the Custer Gallatin National Forest that is off-limits to motor vehicle traffic. Lightburn had been riding the bike there before the incident, court documents say.