Lakeside's Baldy Fire fully contained, not fully controlled Play Video
Posted: Sep 26, 2009 9:25 PM
Updated: Sep 30, 2009 7:23 AM
Fire managers say that while the Baldy Fire near Lakeside is 100% contained, it still isn't fully controlled.
The Flathead County Sheriff ended the evacuation notice for 160 people Monday night. The fire scorched 246 acres close to homes.
Forest Service officials say they're watching for hazards like rolling trees and rocks. Some crews will slowly leave the scene, but there are still engines, bulldozers, hot shot crews and a helicopter there. Forest officials say their main objective now is to maintain the existing firelines.
The cause of the Baldy fire is under investigation.
Fire officials say that while the Baldy Fire in Lakeside is fully contained, the blaze is not yet controlled, so they are watching the blaze for any hazards.
Some crews are being released from the scene, but there are still several engines, bulldozers, hot shot crews and a helicopter assigned to the blaze.
U.S. Forest officials say their main objective on Tuesday is to maintain and secure the existing firelines.
Fire investigators still have not determined what sparked the fire which has burned roughly 220 acres.
Lakeside residents who have been displaced from their homes can finally safely return.
Flathead County Sheriff Mike Meehan spoke at the town's second public meeting since the fire broke out on Baldy Mountain and told people the evacuation notice is over.
People cheered as Flathead fire officials announced that they have a solid handle on the 220 acre fire that displaced hundreds from their homes.
"The good news is that tonight crews were able to tie the fire line in all the way around the fire" announced the Flathead National Forest's James Barnett.
But, commanders are still hesitant to say they have the fire 100% contained because of potential for rollouts. They say that due to the fire's mountain location, burning debris still has the potential to roll down across the fire line.
But so far, so good as the high temperatures and windy conditions that created the fire over the weekend have morphed into cooler days and a wet forecast
"We anticipate some moisture as early as tomorrow and going into Wednesday and Thursday, even some snow is predicted at the higher elevations" commented the Flathead National Forest's Denise Germann.
Flathead County Fire Manager Lincoln Chute said he is really confident that it's all down hill from here. But, he still took the chance to stress the importance of being fire wise and keeping areas around houses clear from debris.
"We just need to get the word out across the county. We have a lot of area left. Hopefully this can be a wakeup call and some good can come out of this."
Flathead County officials say that they aren't downsizing their resources just yet until they secure and cool the perimeter of the fire.
They also told a relieved Lakeside crowd on Monday evening that they've had such success in battling the fire that they don't think another public meeting will be necessary.
(from September 28, 2009)
Fire crews are getting the upper hand on the Baldy Fire that forced evacuations and sent people rushing down the mountain Saturday night. Residents have anxiously waited to hear if they have to evacuate as the fire erupted along the mountain near their homes. The fire quickly grew to 220 acres by Sunday, but hasn't gotten bigger since, and is 60 contained.
Many residents are returning to their homes near Lakeside. 160 people got evacuation advisories when the fire started.
One Lakeside resident, Francois Zanni, explains her families experience by saying, "It's been kind of a little hectic, you know the smoke, you wake up in the morning and look to see where it's at, it kind of freaks out the kids a little bit, they've been staying at friends houses to be on the safe side. They're a little worried which is to be expected."
Local fire departments remain at the fire for structure protection.
"From the county standpoint we really like how the fire's looking, but we are going to keep in place the structure protection until we really feel confident that we got line around this thing and its going to hold," explains Flathead County Fire Service Manager, Lincoln Chute.
On Sunday night about 150 firefighters were at Baldy Mountain. There are helicopters, dozers and hand crews on scene. Crews are also fighting fire with fire.
"The main approach is to go direct as best we can, there are some places where we won't be able to go directly so we'll be burning out between the edge of the fire and the line that we put in, so people will probably see a little bit of smoke coming from that activity as well as continued interior burning from the actual fire," adds Chute.
"The interagency working with DNRC, the Forest Service, local government, we're all working together, the fire has gone really smooth, you know this is a stressful fire with homes so close and everything, so everybody working together I think it's in everybody's best interest," said Forest Service Fire Management Officer, Rick Connell.
Lakeside resident Francois Zanni adds how, "everybody's been great, the firefighters and the sherrifs and all of them have done a wonderful job and its great to see them out here in the helicopters, and they're doing a lot of hard work, and its wonderful to have them here to save our homes, a big thank you to all of them.
There is a public meeting about the Baldy fire tonight at 6 o'clock at the Lakeside Community Chapel.
Open burning season will not open on October 1st it has been extended until there is a season-ending weather event.
The Baldy Fire burning west of Lakeside is holding at 220 acres burned, and fire officials have scheduled another public meeting for Monday evening to brief residents on the efforts to suppress the blaze.
It broke out Saturday and has prompted officials to issue evacuation notices for Bierney Creek Road, including the Lone Wolf and Bierney Trail areas. A shelter is up and running at the Somers Middle School while the Flathead County Fairgrounds has been made available for livestock and pets.
Fire officials report that additional firefighter crews are arriving at the scene and that the aerial water and retardant drops have been successful in holding the fire, which has allowed firefighters to take suppression actions on the ground.
Another public meeting will take place at 6:00 p.m. in the Lakeside Community Chapel.
An evacuation advisory is still in effect for people who live near the Baldy Mountain Fire burning in Flathead County, which started Saturday night about three miles west of Lakeside.
The Baldy fire is burning about 220 acres close to homes. Some people rushed down the mountain Saturday night as the fire crested the mountain.
"This one, at 6 o'clock, within 15 minutes, the smoke was actually starting to come into the windows of my house, I actually thought my house was maybe on fire," resident Danette Finneman told us.
The Flathead County Sheriff's office told 160 people they are under advisory evacuation and people can go to the Somers Middle School for shelter and take their animals to the Flathead County Fairgrounds.
"We are concerned about the steep rocky terrain, which does it make it difficult for firefighters to be in on the ground digging lines," said Public Information Officer Beth Pargman, "So we're utilizing some heavy equipment such as bulldozers, and we're also utilizing a lot of aerial support, which are the tankers and the helicopters to conduct retardant and water dropping operations."
Fire departments from all across Flathead County are on the scene west of Lakeside to protect any homes that may be threatened by the blaze. The fire is being managed by the Flathead National Forest, Flathead County, and the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation.
"Firefighter and public safety is the highest priority, so please do use caution when driving around the area, there's a lot of emergency vehicles in Lakeside and throughout the fire area, also, the forest service and the county are working very hard to put this fire in containment" Pargman advised.
"When I could tell that the animals were starting to run down, that's probably the one thing that made me realize that this is a pretty serious fire, it's just a house, I would rather be safe that sorry and I would not want to see the firefighters ever come up to try to save a house" Finneman said.
Fire officials told concerned citizens they have made substantial progress battling the Baldy Fire west of Lakeside. Over 100 people gathered at the Lakeside Community Chapel tonight for a public meeting to learn about the Baldy fire that's threatening 160 homes.
People listened calmly as officials with the Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Forest Service and Flathead County spoke, telling the crowd the fire is nearly 20% contained and no structures have been harmed.
The DNRC said Sunday's favorable forecast helped, and things are looking good for the next few days. The DNRC's Greg Poncin said Saturday was the highest fire danger they've seen so far this year: "Today was kind of that day to get some organization done. We've made some progress, and if we can say that everyday, I think it's a success and of course zero accidents, that's the other really important part of that."
"Tomorrow (Monday), we are making a plan, we are going to keep about the same amount of resources that we did today, just in case the wind comes up or anything. A little "better safe than sorry" attitude. I feel a lot more confident now than I did at 10 or 11 o'clock last (Saturday) night," added Flathead County Service Manager Lincoln Chute.
There will be a public meeting every night for the duration of the fire and those meetings will be at 6:00 p.m. in the Lakeside Community Chapel. The cause of the Baldy fire is still under investigation.
Two pictures of the aerial assault on Baldy Fire near Lakeside; photos courtesy Brenda Mallaburn
(September 27, 2009, mid-day update)
U.S. Forest Service officials report the Baldy Fire burning near Lakeside is at 200 acres and growing.
Any evacuations continue to be voluntary at this point, and about 160 people have been notified. Residents who do evacuate can go to the Somers School and take their livestock to the Flathead County Fairgrounds in Kalispell.
The voluntary evacuation is for Blacktail Road south to Mission as well as Bierney Creek Road, Lone Wolf and Bierney Trail. Flathead County Sheriff's Office officials say that people should stay out of those areas if they are not residents of the area.
U.S. Forest Service fire information officer Beth Pargman says there are many forest service crews at the fire and they have requested aerial help. There are also numerous local and rural fire departments on hand for structure protection if it's needed.
USFS officials are asking people to be cautious of emergency vehicles when they are in Lakeside. Fire officials say they don't know how the fire started on Baldy Mountain.
(from September 26, 2009)
Areas on Blacktail Mountain in Flathead County were being evacuated Saturday night after a wildfire broke out.
Flathead County dispatch tells us that the fire is near Bierney Creek Road, just west of Lakeside.
Fire officials were alerted just after 8:00 p.m. on Saturday night when flames were spotted by a resident on Flathead Lake. Sheriff's dispatch says that right now the evacuations are voluntary.
Flathead National Forest, the Department of Natural Resources and Flathead County Sheriff's department are all responding, and are still in the initial stages of sizing up the fire.
