Hundreds Urged to Flee Growing Mont. Wildfire
Pastor Dale Morgan
Hundreds Urged to Flee Growing Mont. Wildfire*
Thursday August 31, 2006 5:31 AM
BIG TIMBER, Mont. (AP) - A wildfire nearly doubled in size in southern
Montana Wednesday, prompting officials to urge hundreds of residents to
leave their homes in Stillwater and Sweet Grass.
``We're not going to take you out in handcuffs,'' Undersheriff Jerry
Mahlum told residents at a public meeting. ``We are going to ask you to
sign a waiver that you've been warned and to let us know the next-of-kin
you want notified.''
People who have not already left were being called by emergency services
and told that the situation was deteriorating, Sweet Grass County
officials said.
The Stillwater Mine called off its night shift for about 200 workers
because of smoke from the fire and concern about traveling conditions.
Interstate 90 was temporarily closed between Livingston and Columbus.
The wildfire was estimated at 80,000 acres, or about 125 square miles.
There were reports Wednesday evening that two homes and several
outbuildings had burned, said fire information officer Pat Cross. He had
no further details.
The fire camp used as a base of operations was evacuated at 4 p.m.
because of encroaching flames, Cross said. About 30 firefighters stayed
to protect a handful of homes, he said.
Weather conditions were better at wildfires in California and Washington.
Rainfall was reported near a 67,000-acre fire complex in southeastern
Washington. The fire is 20 percent contained, and 1,175 firefighters are
on the job.
A wildfire that destroyed two homes Tuesday crept through the San
Bernardino National Forest on Wednesday as firefighters struggled to
protect a mountain hamlet.
The 2,000-acre blaze was 40 percent contained and had not moved much
since starting Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.
It was expected to be fully surrounded by Friday evening, said Norma
Bailey of the U.S. Forest Service.
``We've been getting cooler temperatures in the evening, which is
helpful,'' she said.
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On the Net:
Fire information: http://www.inciweb.org/
National Interagency Fire Center: http://www.nifc.gov/