The Superior Ranger District reported that there was no fire activity in the area west of Superior. However, two small blazes broke out in the Nine Mile Ranger District over the weekend. A 12-acre blaze called the Burdett Fire was reported nine miles southeast of Tarkio. It is in a remote area caused by lightning.

Also, a 3-acre fire was reported 1 mile east of Sunrise Mountain and was also caused by lightning. Crews were in the area as of July 17. On July 16 a small 1.5-acre fire was spotted in the Mill Creek Area approximately three miles north of Frenchtown and that blaze has been contained.

On July 17 the Lazier Creek 3 Fire in Sanders County had burned 1,145 acres and was 70 percent contained. 362 fire fighters were on the scene battling the blaze located south of U.S. 2 and west of the Thompson River Road. The Rogers Mountain Fire located 3 miles northwest of Happy’s Inn near the Lazier Creek 3 Fire has burned 78 acres and is 90 percent contained with 47 personnel at the scene. In that same area, the Grubb Fire located north of Pleasant Valley had burned 16 acres and has been extinguished.

Northwest of Meadow Park Lookout, a 12 acre fire has also been 100 percent contained. Four acres also burned in the 2645 Fire located northwest of the Meadow Peak Fire. It has also been fully contained. The Thompson River Road closure was lifted on July 16. People are told to use caution.

In the Missoula area, on July 15 a fire broke out near the Kelly Island Fishing Access off Spurgin Road west of Missoula. Over 20 acres burned as of Saturday. The fire was lightning caused. On July 16 an afternoon fire broke out in the Pattee Canyon area. It had burned approximately 4 acres and was probably caused by lightning.

On July 13 a fire started 27 miles southeast of Missoula, 9 miles from Beavertail Pond called the Slide Rock Fire in the Rock Creek area. The Lolo National Forest reported that it was probably caused by lightning. It has burned approximately 40 acres as of July 16. No structural damage has been reported.

Also on July 13, The Little Hogback Fire started and is located in the Rock Creek Area southeast of Bitterroot Flat Campground.

It has burned approximately 20 acres as of July 16.

Other northwest area fires in Montana include a 275 acre Park Creek Fire burning near Lincoln. Two fires are reported near Philipsburg in the Sapphire Mountains. The Whetstone Ridge Fire was at 371 acres and the Meyers Fire was 75 acres as of July 17. Seven other small fires have also been reported in that area primarily due to recent lightning.