Mont. Wildfire Grows; Destroys 20 Houses
Pastor Dale Morgan
Mont. Wildfire Grows; Destroys 20 Houses*
Friday September 1, 2006 5:31 AM
By SUSAN GALLAGHER
Associated Press Writer
BIG TIMBER, Mont. (AP) - A wildfire has burned 20 houses and 15 other
buildings and continued to spread in southern Montana, officials said
Thursday.
The wildfire was about 156,000 acres, or about 244 square miles. Fire
officials had issued evacuation orders for about 500 homes in Stillwater
and Sweet Grass counties. Two private bridges across the Stillwater
River also were destroyed.
Authorities said they didn't know when people would be able to return to
their homes. Numerous risks remained, including downed power lines and
burned trees that could fall at any time.
``I know you want to get into your homes,'' said Stillwater County
Undersheriff Woody Claunch. ``I want you there, too. But it's my
responsibility to keep you safe.''
Officials were bringing in the National Guard to staff road blocks. The
Red Cross set up a shelter at the county fairgrounds in Columbus, about
36 miles southeast of Big Timber.
Evacuee Pat Karnos, a former volunteer firefighter, left his home with
some family mementos but left most of his belongings behind. He said,
``The winds picked up yesterday, and all hell broke loose.''
Temperatures were cooler Thursday, but winds were gusting to 20 mph.
Authorities said conditions were improving.
Weather conditions were better at a wildfire in Washington.
Wet and cool weather helped slow the growth of a large wildfire in
southeastern Washington and winds spawned by a cold front helped push
some smaller fires back on themselves, but a windy forecast may make the
reprieve short-lived.
The 76,000-acre fire complex in the Blue Mountains was 20 percent
contained, and 1,175 firefighters were on the job. But a warmer, drier
weather forecast, with highs rising into the 90s by Sunday, could refuel
the blaze.
In California, firefighters made progress Thursday in battling a
2,000-acre wildfire in the San Bernardino National Forest.
About 1,230 firefighters took advantage of mild winds and an increase in
humidity overnight by building lines and setting backfires.
The pre-dawn weather conditions ``really helped slow down the fire,''
said U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Carol Beckley.
The blaze was 60 percent contained Thursday morning, with full
containment predicted by early Friday evening.
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On the Net:
Fire information: http://www.inciweb.org/
National Interagency Fire Center: http://www.nifc.gov/