Tin Soldier complex of fires closes access to Spotted Bear, Meadow Creek Gorge from reservoir

The lower ends of the East Side Reservoir Road and the West Side Reservoir road are closed due to the Tin Soldier complex of fires burning outside of Sotted Bear.

West Side South Fork Road #895 will be closed to public travel at the 42-mile mark and the East Side South Fork Road #38 will be closed to public travel at the 37.5-mile mark.

This means there is no access to the Spotted Bear or Meadow Creek Gorge areas and trailheads of the Bob Marshall Wilderness from the Reservoir.

A frontcountry closure for the area is now in effect as well.

The Tin Soldier Complex is made up of four fires burning in timber litter with heavy dead and down fuels associated with a fire scar from 2003. It is located on the Spotted Bear Ranger District of the Flathead National Forests, approximately 17 miles east of Swan Lake.

All told, it’s about 2,000 acres total. There are fires burning on Bruce Ridge, Kah Mountain and near Sullivan Creek. The Con Kelly Fire has been put out.

A masticator and heavy equipment task force was utilized to establish a fuel break around the Wilderness Lodge and the hydro-electric facility near Spotted Bear. A hose line has been laid along the established fuel break and sprinklers have been set up around the Wilderness Lodge. Fire personnel will start structure protection efforts to include hose line and sprinkler systems for the Spotted Bear Ranch, Diamond R Ranch and the Spotted Bear Ranger Station compound.

The Heinrude Cabins have been told to evacuate as well.