Wind fans Garcon fire, homes and cattle threatened
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A fire that started Monday afternoon in the Garcon/Windy Gap area 20 miles northwest of Ronan continues to grow, fanned by gusty winds that, according to the National Weather Service, could reach 23 miles per hour Tuesday.
As of 1 p.m. Tuesday, the West Garcon fire had burned more than 1,300 acres, less than 24 hours after it was reported at 5:45 p.m. Monday, Aug. 13. According to Curtiss Matt, an information officer with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Division of Fire, the fire burned approximately 300 to 500 acres Monday night, with 15-mile-per-hour winds fanning the flames. It’s burning about 60 percent grass and 40 percent timber, Matt said.
At least one Irvine Flats Road home was evacuated Tuesday afternoon, and area ranchers scrambled to get cattle out of harm's way. The origin of the fire is still being investigated, Matt said. It began on private land and spread to tribal land. “Right now there is no estimate of containment,” he added.
CKST Division of Fire, Polson Rural Fire Department, Hot Springs Fire Department and CSKT Forest Development responded Monday, and Ronan and Finley Point Fire Departments were called on for mutual aid just after 3:30 p.m. Tuesday. A handful of firefighters from Finley Point and Ronan, along with at least two water tenders and a Type 6 engine, joined around 30 people already on site. Firefighting equipment being used includes two cats, two skidgines, a medium helicopter and a fixed-wing aircraft, two larger helicopters and two larger airplanes. Fire headquarters are at the Polson Fairgrounds.
