Residents of two small communities in Sanders County were ordered to evacuate Thursday as the Thorne Creek Fire continued to grow amid hot and gusty weather.

Sheriff Tom Rummel said all residents of Snider and Copper King must evacuate and the National Guard would staff a roadblock at a nearby intersection. Residents will need passes to access their properties; the passes can be obtained at the roadblock or the sheriff's office.

The Montana Red Cross opened a shelter for people displaced by the fire at the Thompson Falls Community Center, 410 Golf St. The shelter is offering meals for those displaced. Families also can request Red Cross services by calling 800-272-6668.

The Thorne Creek Fire is one of about nine fires in the Kootenai National Forest started by lightning on July 7. The fires were collectively dubbed the West Lolo Complex and had burned more than 23,000 acres as of Thursday, according to InciWeb. The Thorne Creek Fire was listed at 15% contained with 402 personnel on scene.

The fire was "hung up" in the area near Ashley Creek Road, fire managers reported, and crews were concerned about spotting in the area after the blaze ran up a hill late Wednesday. Temperatures in the 90s were expected to continue, increasing fire activity, before another cooling period begins on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the Boulder 2700 Fire east of Polson was listed at 2,072 acres with 36% containment and 248 personnel on scene. The Hay Creek Fire west of Polebridge was listed at 2,894 acres with 30% containment and 214 personnel on scene. And the South Yaak Fire northwest of Troy was listed at 10,498 acres with 44% containment and 206 personnel on scene.

STATE OFFICIALS also warned Thursday that air quality in Lincoln and Sanders counties was reaching unhealthy levels due to smoke from the West Lolo Complex, the South Yaak Fire and other wildfires burning in Idaho and eastern Washington.

Health experts recommend people — especially children, seniors, pregnant women and those with chronic heart and lung conditions — limit outdoor activity, consider wearing N95 respirator masks and consider using HEPA air filters at home.

Air quality in Lincoln and Sanders counties has ranged from "unhealthy for sensitive groups" to "hazardous" this summer, and that trend is likely to continue as long as the fires burn, according to a release from the state Department of Environmental Quality and the Department of Public Health and Human Services.

The agencies said the "estimated date of containment" for the West Lolo Complex is Oct. 31.

"Northwesterly flow is expected to continue the rest of the work week, so smoke impacts from fires in Idaho and Washington will likely continue as well," they said.

Assistant editor Chad Sokol may be reached at 406-758-4439 or csokol@dailyinterlake.com.