Firefighters battle Arlee blaze
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
ARLEE — A downed power line started a fire southeast of Arlee Sunday afternoon. Arlee Volunteer Fire Department and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes’ Division of Fire responded quickly to the blaze, reported around 4:30 p.m. along the power lines off South Couture Loop.
By 7:30 p.m., the fire had grown to about 10-15 acres as it spread eastward into timber, according to Division of Fire spokesperson Devlin LaFrambois.
No structures were in immediate danger.
“There are some on the south side of the hill, but we’ve not evacuated,” he said. “I believe they are safe. We have a couple dozers putting in lines on the west side, along the top, and then east flank.”
Toward evening the weather was calm and the air was cooling, making it easy for the helicopters, heavy air tankers and single engine planes attacking the active flames from the sky.
“The weather is cooperating with us,” LaFrambois said.
Arlee Rural Fire Department, tribal engines, dozers and a skidgen were actively fighting the blaze as well.
“We have lots of resources up here,” LaFrombois said. “We are doing pretty good with it. By dark, we hope to have a line around it.”
More equipment arrived Monday morning to help improve the fire lines.
Smoke that filled the valley Sunday blew in from fires in Idaho, according to LaFrombois.
