The Kootenai River Stampede was the place to be Saturday night, but at least two of its attendees had to leave because of wildfires threatening their homes.

Unlike the majority of the previous lightning-caused fires that kept area crews busy and the skies filled with helicopters and planes dumping water, both of Saturday’s two blazes along Montana Highway 37 were human caused. Both were reported between 6:30 and 7 p.m.

It started after a fatal traffic accident resulted in downed power lines sparking a fire that threatened a handful of homes on the north side of the highway between Osprey Landing boat launch and River Bend Restaurant.

One homeowner who spoke to The Western News said she got a phone call from her husband that a fire was threatening their property. She left the rodeo and raced home to see that the house and their dogs inside were safe.

Another residence sitting above the aforementioned property was not damaged, but the blaze, officially titled the Mile Marker 12 Fire, burned within a few feet of their domiciles. A vintage car parked in the area was destroyed in the fire.

The vehicle in the fatal accident was a two-tone Dodge Dakota pickup truck with a cap and Montana tags. It was traveling north on Highway 37 when it left the left side of the road, traveled through a wide ditch, over a grass driveway before coming to rest on its roof next to a greenhouse on the homeowner’s property.

The woman said she heard about an erratic driver leaving Libby and that law enforcement was called. But it’s unclear if it was related to the fatal accident.

The fire burned several small trees and grass in the ditch and charred the bases of some pine trees on the hillside.

Flathead Electric crew shut off power for first responders to work safely. Firefighters from the Kootenai National Forest, Libby Volunteer Fire Department handled the blaze while Montana Highway Patrol, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, county Coroner’s Office and Libby Volunteer Ambulance dealt with the traffic accident.

In the other wildfire, a fire official said the tension from the busted power pole sparked the second fire that endangered dozens of homes in Em Kayan Village.

The Greers Fire was reported 14 minutes after the Mile Marker 12 Fire. Both were one acre in size and were under control Saturday night.

Another homeowner whose residence sat about 100 feet from the north edge of the fire was also called home from the rodeo by neighbors.

Residents living on Greers Ferry Road and Linda Lane were outside watching fire crews, which included Kootenai National Forest, Libby Volunteers and a helicopter, keep the blaze from reaching their homes.

The home owner said the commotion in the neighborhood was in direct contrast to the typical peace and quiet that is enjoyed the vast majority of the time.

“But we are so thankful for the fire fighters we have here and their quick response,” he said. “We are very blessed.”

    Flames leap from a wildfire Saturday, July 25, 2026, in Em Kayan Village north of Libby. (Photo courtesy George Berschneider)
  

    A Kootenai National Forest firefighter sprays water on the remnants of a wildfire near a home along Highway 37 north of Libby on the evening of Saturday, July 25, 2026. Someone driving a pickup truck left the road, sheared off a power pole, downing lines which caused the fire. The person inside the vehicle died. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
  

    A vintage car was burned by a wildfire near a home along Highway 37 north of Libby on the evening of Saturday, July 25, 2026. Someone driving a pickup truck left the road, sheared off a power pole, downing lines which caused the fire. The person inside the vehicle died. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
  

    A wildfire near a home in Em Kayan Village north of Libby smolders on the evening of Saturday, July 25, 2026, while Kootenai National Fire crews work. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)