The Napoleon Fire, burning an estimated 2,160 acres north of the towns of Noxon and Heron, prompted evacuations Wednesday along six miles of Montana 56.

The evacuation orders apply to 17 residences on both sides of the highway between mile markers 8 and 14. The houses are in a narrow canyon along the highway.

The American Red Cross of Montana on Wednesday afternoon opened a shelter for evacuees at the Noxon School, 300 Noxon Ave.

Residents along the eight-mile stretch south of the evacuation corridor, from mile marker 8 to the junction with Montana 200, were given pre-evacuation notices, as were homes on the East Fork Bull River Road.

“Most people I’ve talked to personally were already ready to go,” fire information officer John Head said. “We’re convincing them to set up as many sprinklers and hoses as they can, so if we get in there in structure defense situation, when we see that we’ll turn them on and it’ll help whatever we do.”

By 5 p.m. Wednesday, the flame front had advanced within a quarter-mile of the nearest structures.

“So far, it’s been moving fairly slowly — we saw a little increase in fire activity last night,” Head said. “Our main concern is the fire weather report. It’s been hot and dry today, and we’re expecting a front to move in later with erratic winds. It all adds up to a pretty dangerous situation.”

The Napoleon Fire was estimated at 250 acres on Tuesday, but grew significantly overnight and merged with the Hamilton and Star Gulch Fires, two large wildfires that have been burning in the area since a lightning storm last week.

A Type III fire management team is overseeing more than 100 firefighters, working alongside the Geronimo and Cherokee hotshot crews. Kootenai National Forest, volunteer fire departments and the Sanders County Sheriff’s Office had been collaborating on the firefighting and evacuation efforts throughout the day.

“We’re getting great cooperation from the county and all the local agencies,” he said.

Bulldozers and excavators dug fire lines along the valley bottom to stop the fire before it advanced onto private land, while crews remove fuels and install water lines.

Two helicopters were dropping water and the firefighting team has requested help from two Montana National Guard Chinook helicopters that became available when Gov. Steve Bullock declared a state fire emergency on Sunday.

“The main fire itself is on north-facing slopes above the Bull River in heavy timber.” Head said. “It’s rough country. We’re not sure what the heck those fires are going to do up there, so we’re just focusing our efforts where we’ll have the most bang for our buck, protecting the areas where our neighbors live.”

There will be a community meeting about the fire situation today at 7 p.m. at the Clark Fork School Old Gymnasium.

The fire information line for the Napoleon Fire is (406) 827-0738.

Reporter Samuel Wilson can be reached at 758-4407 or by email at swilson@dailyinterlake.com.