Benchmark Fire

[Marta]

Apparently there's a new fire near Benchmark that's causing some evacuations:

http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4572/

[Marta]

Most of the Great Bear Wilderness has been closed to hikers and other backcountry use. Too many fires happening.

http://flatheadbeacon.com/2015/08/28...erness-closed/

[Marta]

We've had several days of rain, which has greatly decreased fire activity and spread in NW Montana. But as far as I can tell, trails are still closed. I talked to a friend who had hiked towards Jumbo Mountain in late August. He was located and escorted out on the 28th as rangers were sweeping the area to remove hikers and campers. I also read this morning that there is a lot of damage to the trails, which are being assessed and cleared before being reopened.

From inciweb this morning:

Incident: Spotted Bear District Fires Wildfire
Released: 8/27/2015
Related Information

• Spotted Bear Wilderness Closure News Release (PDF 184 kb)

In the interest of public safety, beginning on August 28th, the Bob Marshall and Great Bear Wilderness Areas in the Spotted Bear Ranger District will be closed to public use.

The intention of the closure is to be as short as possible. Forest personnel will be evaluating the fire conditions daily to determine when it is safe to reopen the wilderness.

Updates will be posted on InciWeb as they become available.

Please call the Spotted Bear Ranger District at 406-758-5376 for further information.

[Malto]

Too bad, such a beautiful area and already fire scarred. Hope the entire west gets some relief from rain and maybe a flake or two of snow.

[Marta]

There has been good precipitation--rain and snow--and colder temperatures. Things are looking up. There was a great deal of fire damage before this year's fires started. A friend who hiked through earlier in the summer said it wasn't much fun even then.

http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4547/