Some residents near Libby were asked to leave their homes by noon Thursday so fire crews could perform burn operations associated with the West Fork Fire burning 7 miles west of town.

The evacuations ordered by Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office were expected to last at least through the weekend. Residents were told at a Wednesday evening meeting that if all goes according to plan they could return home possibly by Sunday.

The evacuation areas include:

- Kootenai River Road from Quarts Creek to end of Bighorn Terrace.

- North side of Kootenai River Road from North Central to Quartz Creek.

- Lower Bobtail, including Burrell and Indian Pipe.

Dan Williams with the Lincoln County fire information center said the evacuations were mandatory.

“There’s a wind event predicted for Friday and Saturday and we don’t want anyone in there,” Williams said.

The Red Cross has set up a shelter at the Assembly of God Church at 105 Collins Ave., in Libby. For more information on the evacuations, residents can call 406-293-6295.

The lightning-caused West Fork Fire has burned 7,337 acres as of Thursday.

West Fork Fire public information officer Vickie Russo said burnouts were successfully completed to Lindy Peak along the Bobtail Ridge and Bobtail Ridge Road area. Thursday, crews were going to monitor and hold the line, Russo said.

She explained that the burnouts are being used to create a buffer between the fire and residents in the area.

“It’s a low-intensity fire,” she said.

Fire activity on Thursday was slow due to an intense smoke inversion that settled on the area, Russo said.

“All the smoke is helping us out,” she said. However, due to the low visibility, no air support is available to firefighters.