Single Publication

Ridge Fire:
Location: 6 miles southeast of Hungry Horse
Size: 3474 acres
Percent Contained: 20%
Cause: Lightning
Start Date: July 30, 2023, 3:45 PM
Number of Personnel Assigned: 659

Doris Point Fire:
Location: 8 miles south of Hungry Horse
Size: 597 acres
Percent Contained: 0%
Cause: Lightning
Start Date: July 30, 2023, 3:45 PM
Number of Personnel Assigned: 2
https://www.youtube.com/@2023ridgefire

Tin Soldier:
Location: 17 miles east of Swan Lake
Size: 5966 acres
Percent Contained: 0%
Cause: Lightning
Start Date: July 30, 2023, 3:45 PM
Number of Personnel Assigned: 89
Fire Information: 406-998-6074
Hours: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Email: 2023.ridge@firenet.gov
Incident Website: Ridge Fire: http://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/mtfnf-ridge-fire
Tin Soldier: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/mtfnf-tin-soldier-complex

COMMUNITY MEETING TONIGHT AT 7:30PM AT THE GLACIER BIBLE CAMP.

CURRENT SITUATION:
A Red Flag warning issued yesterday at 3 p.m. continues through midnight tonight. Increased hot, dry, and windy weather yesterday led to increased fire activity. Smoke conditions cleared mid-day, allowing water-dropping helicopters to work with ground forces to maintain control lines. Today’s winds are forecast to be somewhat higher than yesterday, with gusts 20-25 mph in most areas, higher on ridgetops. Today crews will continue to mop up and hold the western and northern divisions. As work is completed there, resources are moving to the east side, where firefighters continue to directly attack the fire, supported by aviation, while scouting for opportunities to build indirect and contingency fire lines.
The Doris Point fire due to more accurate mapping is currently 597 acres. Fire personnel and Flathead National Forest have completed structure wrap and placing sprinklers to protect campgrounds and boat docks. Fire personnel continue to maintain confinement, containment, and point protection strategy in coordination with the Flathead National Forest.
This morning, California Interagency Incident Management Team 4 assumed command of the Tin Soldier Fire, which includes the Sullivan and Bruce Fires. Today’s actions will focus on continuing to improve structure protection efforts for the commercial guest ranches, Spotted Bear Ranger Station compound, Heinrude residential community, and other infrastructure in the area. Crews will continue fuels reduction, daily testing and pre-treatment with the sprinkler systems and water pumps for identified values at risk and conducting additional tactical firing operations as necessary. Fire personnel continue to maintain confinement, containment, and point protection strategy in coordination with the Flathead National Forest.

WEATHER:
A Red Flag Warning is in effect today through 12:00 Saturday, 8/19/2023.
Mostly cloudy in the morning and partly cloudy in the afternoon. Below 4500 ft 85 to 90 degrees mid-slope and ridge tops 80 to 85 degrees. Relative humidity is 15020% today. Expected high winds in the valleys, lower slope ridges, and upper slope, from the southwest 8-14mph and increasing to 12-18mph. Gusts up to 30mph in the valley and lower slopes and up to 40mph in the ridges and upper slopes. Temperatures are expected to cool this weekend as a cold front approach, bringing a 30-40 percent change of wetting rain on Monday and Tuesday.

RIDGE & DORIS FIRE PRE-EVACUATION NOTICE:
The Flathead County Sheriff’s Office has issued a pre-evacuation notice from the east side of Spotted Bear Road to West Glacier. Visit the Flathead Sheriff’s office for details https://www.facebook.com/flatheadsheriff

EMERGENCY SHELTER:
The American Red Cross has identified the following location as an emergency shelter for residents affected by the Ridge Fire. Those who plan to use the emergency shelter are asked to call 1-800-733-2767 prior to your arrival.
Columbia Falls Junior High School 1805 Talbot Road Columbia Falls, MT https://www.facebook.com/FlatheadOES

TIN SOLDIER FIRE EVACUATIONS, CLOSURES AND RESTRICTIONS
An evacuation has been issued by the Flathead County Sheriff for Heinrude community. Visit the Flathead Sheriff’s office for details https://www.facebook.com/flatheadsheriff

FIRE CLOSURES:
The Hungry Horse Reservoir is closed to all public access, including both the east and west side roads. As firefighting efforts continue on the Ridge Fire, the Tin Soldier, and other fires in the area, the closure is in place to provide for public and firefighter safety. https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/flathead/alerts-notices/?aid=82283

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Residents should stay alert for changing conditions and visit ready.gov/wildfires for preparing for wildfires. Please refer to http://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/mtfnf-tin-soldier-complex for the Tin Soldier Complex Incident information