Puzzle Creek fire proves stubborn

The Puzzle Creek Fire, burning in the high terrain of the Flathead National Forest near Marias Pass on the Continental Divide, continued to grow last week despite some cooler temperatures.

"It's one stubborn fire," Hungry Horse/Glacier View District Ranger Jimmy DeHerrera said last week.

The fire was mapped out at about 2,200 acres. While rains helped dampen the fire on the east side of the Divide where fuels are thinner, the west side remained active.

DeHerrera said the fire is burning at a high elevation in dead and dying stands of whitebark pine. At lower elevations, it's burning some lodgepole.

Last week, crews took down a sprinkler system set up to protect a bridge over Puzzle Creek, but by Wednesday, they were putting the sprinklers back up again.

Last Thursday and Friday saw warm temperatures, but this week should be cooler with a chance of rain.

The only structures threatened by fire were the bridge and a warming hut that snowmobilers used. The hut was on wheels, however, and was moved.

DeHerrera said the burned area will not offer much salvage timber potential. Most of the fire area is inventoried roadless areas that are off limits to logging or in areas with sensitive soil conditions.