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Last week I was pretty critical about the USFS plan to “Box in” the Whale Buttes Fire with fire retardant delivered by helicopter.

Turns out we were both right. The fire did break out of its box as I feared. However, it did not make a big run towards Glacier Park, thus buying time to assemble resources.

As of now, a Type I management team is in charge of the Howe Ridge Fire in Glacier Park and the three fires on U.S. Forest that could impact Glacier, Paola Creek, Coal Ridge, and Whale Buttes.

Of most concern to North Forkers is the Whale Buttes Fire because it most directly threatens private homes. It is also the smallest of the four current fires.

I attended both the Columbia Falls and Sondreson Hall informational meetings. In addition, I have talked with the Forest official in charge of the Whale Buttes Fire and with Lincoln Chute, the Flathead County Structure Protection team leader.

I feel the Forest Plan to fight the Whale Buttes Fire with a defense in depth is very strong and short of very violent weather it will contain the fire well short of dwellings, the North Fork Road, or the river. The strategy is to take full advantage of heavy equipment and reopen old logging roads to the east of the fire. These roads virtually surround the fire and are strengthened by firewise efforts of state, federal, and private landowners in the last fifteen years.

By reopening the old logging roads, they will then be able to create a shaded fuel break on both sides of the road and have access to direct attack the fire if it gets that far.

In addition to fighting the fire, Flathead County Structure Protection has notified all private residents of the threat. They are also clearing brush and trees around homes, setting up water sprinklers etc. I have not heard of any buildings on private property being wrapped or sprayed but I suppose that is possible if the threat increases.

As of today (Monday August 20th) plans and resources are in place that make me feel confident we will not lose any private homes or even burn any private land. Plus, as of ten minutes ago it started raining at my cabin and radio contacts indicate the rain is widespread.

Hopefully, this week will be a great awareness drill with dust abatement on the road and a cash income from Hall rental. It is a really black cloud that doesn’t have a silver lining. What do you think?

Larry Wilson’s North Fork Views appears weekly in the Hungry Horse News.