Sanders County Sheriff’s Office deputies are evacuating cabins and homes threatened by the Lazier Creek 3 fire, which is burning near the Bend Guard station northeast of Thompson Falls.

The blaze that ignited late Saturday afternoon has now exceeded 1,000 acres.

There are several other fires that were sparked late Friday by lightning.

The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation reports that the blazes are scattered throughout the Pleasant Valley, Happy’s Inn, ACM and Fisher River areas.

Local DNRC and Forestry services teamed with Sanders County Sheriff department are working to clear the area as the fire is not yet contained

Due to the location of the fire, being south of US Hwy 2 and north of Hwy 200, dozers are still on the ground working to place fire-breaks ahead of the front.

The Sanders County Sheriffs department has already begun blocking access to some roads for public safety until the fire is under control

Local lease cabins and campers in the area have now been evacuated, though the historic rangers district cabin is under threat of burning. Officials say they have a team that is around the ranger’s cabins to combat the blaze as best they can.

A Type 2 management team will arrive in the area Monday to take further precautions on best to battle this blaze.