T-storms could push fires today

High winds and thunderstorms are expected today, which could test wildfires burning across the region. The storms should have some rain, but not enough to put fires out — maybe .2 inches at best, the National Weather Service is predicting.

There should be cooler weather over the weekend.

The Thompson Fire in the Nyack region of the Glacier Park is still the largest blaze, at just under 15,000 acres. The fire cause is still under investigation.

The fire has butted up to the Continental Divide in several locations over a three-mile stretch and threatens the Cut Bank and Two Medicine drainages.

The goal is to keep the fire contained to the remote Nyack Valley and not let it get across the Divide, said fire information officer Ted Pettis.

There are 83 personnel on the fire, but firefighters aren’t spending nights near the blaze because of the fire danger. The fire threatens two structures — the upper and lower Nyack backcountry campgrounds, but the lower one is wrapped and the upper one the fire has burned around it.

On the Flathead National Forest lightning from storms on Aug. 12 started 14 new fires in the Spotted Bear area.

The Bear Creek Fire is the largest of the fires, burning 5.5 miles southwest of Spotted Bear. It is now 151 acres. About eight firefighters are on the blaze and a Type III management team is on the fire. The fire is burning in the 2000 Chipmunk Creek Fire. Trails in the Bunker Creek area are closed. The Trail Creek Fire, burning up the Spotted Bear River, was also active yesterday and is now 1,300 acres.

With the fires burning across the West, smoke is also a concern. The east side of the Park from St. Mary south was smoky yesterday and smoke was hanging in the McDonald Creek Valley as well. From Many Glacier north there is less smoke.

Campfires have been prohibited in all backcountry campgrounds in Glacier.