Arlee hillside catches fire
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ARLEE – A timber fire moved up a draw among the rolling hills on the northeast side of town, near Dumontier Road, on Tuesday, Oct. 23. C.T. Camel, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes’ fire information officer, said the 114-acre fire developed after a debris and grass fire got away from a citizen.
The fire burned up the hill to the forested area, fueled by grass and timber. “No structures were threatened,” he said, “and no one was hurt.” A slight wind moved the smoke towards the east, away from town, and up into the blue sky.
A CSKT Division of Fire ground crew of 14 personnel monitored the fire and a helicopter crew dumped several buckets of water on hotspots during the week.
A few spectators stopped to watch the helicopter on Wednesday evening. “It’s a good thing this didn’t start in the middle of summer or it could be a lot bigger,” one woman said.
Camel said the weather is colder but people still need to be cautious while burning. Debris burning on the Flathead Reservation opened without a permit on Oct. 1. It closes on Nov. 30. The burning of debris created from farming, ranching and gardening is allowed. Wildland debris can also be burned, including needles, grasses, leaves, shrubs, limbs and trees. If burn barrels are going to be used, only agricultural or wildland debris can be burned.
“People need to be safe with burning,” Camel said. “They should check the wind before starting a fire. If it’s windy, don’t burn. And it’s important that people stay with the burn.”
Those with questions about burning should call the Division of Fire at 406-676-2550.
