Ryan Zinke looks at a map of the Colt Fire while a helicopter buzzes overhead on July 31. Fire crews on the Colt Fire have secured much of the blaze with help from cool and wet weather.
Fire crews across western Montana saw minimal fire growth last week, but August will roar to life this week with record-setting temperatures across the Rocky Mountains.
The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory for the Seeley Swan Valley from 11 a.m. Aug. 15 to 11 a.m. Aug 17. Temperatures in Seeley Lake are expected to be 95 degrees on Aug. 16 and 94 degrees on Aug. 17 - both on track to beat records set in 2003 and 1967, respectively.
With the hot weather, fire conditions will worsen on existing flames, while new starts could burn out of control.
Colt Fire
While containment percentage has stayed steady at 45% for the last few days, officials on the Colt Fire reported Aug. 14 that handline and equipment lines have been completed across a majority of the fire. Areas with no lines have already been contained, according to a Monday fire update.
A new start was reported on Sunday, Aug. 13, to the north of the Colt Fire near Lindy Peak. The Lindy Mountain Fire sparked from an unknown source, and had aircraft cooling hot spots Sunday evening..
Fire dispatch said the Helena Hotshots have been reassigned to fight the flames, which burned about an acre by Aug. 14.
With high levels of containment elsewhere, fire crews have removed hose lines from residences and other strategic points along the east side of the fire. Helicopters also moved heavier equipment from the rugged western side of the fire.
The Colt Fire totaled in at 7,200 acres on Aug. 13, showing little growth during the last 10 days. Despite the progress, Rainy Lake, Lake Alva and Lake Inez Campgrounds remain closed.
Big Knife Fire
Meanwhile, the Big Knife Fire has continued to spread five miles east of Arlee. The fire stood at 4,952 acres on Aug. 14. Fire managers are concerned with increasing temperatures that could dry out fuels and give the fire energy to make a larger run.
Just 7% of the fire is contained, mainly on the western front that borders homes. The fire has entered the Jocko Primitive Area, which officials said has cultural importance to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.
Fire crews hope to hold a series of bridges in the roadless area while hand crews hope to build a line across the southern flank of the blaze. The Jocko Lookout to the east has been wrapped with fire proof material to protect it from flames.
By Aug. 16, fire managers on the fire are concerned for the worst fire behavior, including short-range spotting and group torching runs. The fire is still roughly 20 miles from Seeley Lake.
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