An eerie orange glow crept between the summer sun and a dark plume of smoke on Quartz Loop Road late Wednesday afternoon on July 26. It left a feeling of impending doom as the column of smoke rose higher into the hazy sky. Forest Service crews cast a wary eye toward the ridge overlooking Meadow Creek Road, on the east side of the Sunrise Fire. A horse-shoe shaped fire which had been burning in the area since Sunday, July 16.

It had grown to over 2,700 acres on Sunrise Mountain, located 11 miles east of Superior. Winds kicked up from the west and the ridge above Meadow Creek Road looked like a witch’s cauldron, spewing up ash, sparks and embers. Embers which could easily take a ride on the tail of the winds and land up to a mile away, starting yet another flare up. Tree tops on the ridge torched in the gusts, whipping up an orange blaze before receding back into the murky depths of smoke.

Horses in a nearby pasture snorted and rustled uneasily in their pen. The smell of smoke was strong, like sitting next to a campfire. Only this wasn’t a relaxing flame that lulls one’s mind into a catatonic state while enjoying the great outdoors. These were flames crushing through acres of subalpine fir and conifer. Blazing a trail through standing dead and downed trees and growing stronger with each acre it chewed through.

Hot shot crews from all over the U.S. had been working tirelessly, digging trenches for a fire-line to try and hold the behemoth blaze at bay. Helicopters and planes had been dropping flame retardant and gallons of water scooped out of nearby rivers and streams, 600 gallons at a time, to try and maintain the line. A line drawn on Sunrise Ridge by members of the Northern Rockies Type 2 incident team commanded by Shawn Pearson.

Pearson explained that his crews were dealing with steep, tough terrain. He said that the fire wanted to stay on the ridges surrounding the area and tells the crowd at the public meetings how they do battle with the fire. “We prioritize what we’re doing. Operations flies over the fire to get a picture of what’s going on. And that determines where we send our resources. It’s just like they do in the military. I’ve got hotshot crews running around all over the place trying to keep things in check. We have a primary plan, an alternate plan, a contingency plan and an emergency plan. That’s how we operate.”

Pearson points to a map as he explains where they are setting up resources and why. The map is splayed in an abstract design featuring patches of yellow, pink, tan and red. Indicating the progression of the fire.

By Wednesday around 5 p.m. the flames had won out and jumped a line of attack. Emergency crews began to scramble. The sheriff’s department immediately started knocking on resident doors to announce that the area of Quartz Flats and Sunrise Creek Road were now being evacuated. People could stay in their homes but emergency crews could not guarantee their safety. Most resident had already packed their belonging when they were issued a Stage 2 warning the day before. Stage 2 meaning they needed to be prepared to leave if conditions worsened.

Cars and trucks loaded with personal belonging began to make the painful journey down the mountain road, leaving behind their homes, perhaps for the last time. The Superior gym was opened to those who had no place to go and the Missoula Red Cross was on hand for food and other supplies. Livestock could be taken to the fairgrounds in Superior. However, with the county fair approaching in a week, the animals would need to be moved for the days of the fair, August 3 through the 5. Other pets could be sheltered at the Humane Society in Missoula.

Most people have lived in the county enough to have friends and family where they could stay. Only two people had taken advantage of the gym by Friday evening and no animals had been taken to the fairgrounds. By Friday morning, Quartz Creek residents were given evacuation orders. Areas evacuated included about half of the 60 structures deemed threatened by the encroaching flames. Which was announced the nation’s number one priority earlier in the week.

Some residents have chosen to stay. Feeling their homes are safe with surrounding ponds and defensible space between them and the wall of flames. But the Quartz Creek Road only has one way out, leaving people who stay behind limited options if the blaze beckons at their door.

Below the ridgeline, campers and motorhomes packed up and headed out of the Quartz Creek Campground located on the south side of Interstate 90. Campground hosts, Cliff and Judy Parker from Florida, said they could move their motor home to the campground located on the north side of the highway. The closures and evacuations were one of precaution. Though the fire wasn’t a wall of flames descending on the area, the problem was that of spotting. This according to reports from the incident team during a public meeting held at 7 p.m. at the Lozeau Lodge. However, by Thursday, both sides of the campground would be closed.

Montana Senator Steve Daines had called county commissioner, Laurie Johnston and Sheriff Tom Bauer to let them know that he and others where thinking of Mineral County in this time of dire straits. Daines, Interior Secretary, Ryan Zinke, and Senator Jon Tester all were working to get the resources needed to help aid in the fight.

Housekeeping duties were also discussed at the public meetings. Evacuees were instructed to contact the Post Master in Superior for their mail. People who chose to stay in the area needed to let authorities know and limit their travel.

Incident commander Pearson said he welcomed public input from the locals. Since they were more familiar with the country than anyone else. They could visit the base camp located at the Lozeau Exit 55, or come to morning briefings.

Warnings on the incident website for wildfires said locals should brace for a “long-term incident”. With a record-breaking dry spell upon the area and temperatures topping 100 degrees, flames may not be extinguished until the snow flies.