New pre-evacuation warnings for Harlow and Ashley areas went into effect Monday due to the Thorne Creek Fire burning more than 5,600 acres near Thompson Falls, according to a fire news release.
The Sanders County Sheriff issued evacuation orders over the weekend for an area described as “residences from Cougar Creek south to the intersection of Blue Slide Road and River View Lane, on the east side of Blue Slide Road in Graves North and South.” Sheriff’s deputies went door-to-door Sunday notifying residents there.
Firefighters have established points to minimize the chance of being flanked by the fire while they build and secure a fire line. Helicopters are dropping buckets of water on the charred land and supporting ground efforts, too.
The blaze is 0 percent contained, according to Inciweb.
A firefighter who went missing Sunday night while working the 3,000-acre Granite Pass Complex Fire near the Montana/Idaho border was found early this morning uninjured and safe, according to a Missoula County Sheriff’s Facebook post.
Missoula County dispatch was notified of the missing firefighter around 7:30 p.m. after the person was late for a check-in.
The Incident Management Team searched for the firefighter by ground and air. Missoula County Sheriff’s deputies, search and rescue officials, and Two Bear Air helped in the search.
The Granite Pass Complex Fire includes the Shotgun Fire, the Boulder Creek Fire, the BM Hill Fire and the Lolo Creek Fire. According to Inciweb, the blaze is more than 3,000 acres and 1% contained.
Air Quality takes a dive
An air quality alert has been Issued for Beaverhead, Carbon, Gallatin, Lewis and Clark, Madison, Missoula, Park, Pondera, Powder River, Powell, Ravalli and Sweet Grass Counties, where air quality has reached, “unhealthy for sensitive groups” or “unhealthy."
Air quality across the state ranges from "moderate" to "unhealthy", with the worst air quality concentrations occurring south of the I-90 corridor.
Smoke from wildfires is impacting most of the Northwestern U.S. due to the number of active fires in the region.
When air quality is unhealthy, active
children and adults, and people who have a chronic condition, such as asthma or another respiratory disease, or cardiovascular disease, should avoid prolonged outdoor exertion. Exposure to wildfire pollutants can irritate lungs, cause inflammation, alter immune function and increase susceptibility to respiratory infections, including COVID-19.
Populations known to be vulnerable to wildfire smoke exposure include: children, senior citizens, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions such as heart or lung disease—including asthma and diabetes—and outdoor workers
Copyright 2021 Montana Public Radio. To see more, visit Montana Public Radio.
