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HAMILTON -The Downing Mountain Fire continues to threaten homes west of Hamilton, but firefighters took extra precautions on Friday to protect the structures in the area that have been evacuated according to fire managers.

Burnout operations were conducted on two structures within the fire perimeter and 38,000 gallons of fire retardant, along with water bucket drops and dozer lines were utilized to keep flames from moving towards homes.

Small fire spots which broke out Friday morning grew together as the wind started moving the fire uphill. The fire is burning internally within the fire perimeter and remains at 412 acres.

A Type II Incident Management Team from Northern Idaho arrived to manage the fire late Friday and will take over command at 6:00 a.m. Saturday morning. The team will work closely with the Bitterroot National Forest fire officials and the Hamilton Fire Chief.

An Evacuation Center and disaster trailer have been set up at the West View Center in Hamilton while the American Red Cross has help available at the Westview Center, located at 103 South Ninth Street in Hamilton. Call the Red Cross at 1.800.ARC.MONT if you need information or assistance.

Large animals can be taken to the Ravalli County Fairgrounds and the Bitter Root Humane Association has chipped in to help deal with small household animals who have been evacuated. The humane society had taken in 14 cats as of Friday afteroon and say they are accepting dogs, cats, sheep and goats. The hours for the Humane Society are Friday 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Saturday 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and the number to call is (406) 363-3531.

Fire officials say that smoke is expected to impact residents in Bitterroot Valley throughout Friday night and linger in the valley through Saturday.

The blaze is burning in steep terrain and is being fueled by dead or downed trees and dry grass. Officials say that so far, no structures have been lost to the flames, but fire crews are facing a number of hazards associated with fighting this blaze, including power lines and propane tanks near the homes.

Residents who were evacuated from the area were allowed to go back into their homes for emergency supplies such as medicine on Friday, but Ravalli County Sheriff's Department officials asked them to make the trip as quick as possible and to watch for fire crews.

Authorities are also asking people not to pull over on the side of the roads to watch the fire or take pictures, because it blocks traffic.

A meeting to brief the public on the efforts to contain the Downing Mountain will be held from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Saturday at the Corvallis Grange Hall, which is located west of the Woodside Cutoff intersection, north of Hamilton.

A fire information trailer has been set up at the Hamilton Safeway lcoated on East Main Street, and will be operated daily by the Bitterroot National Forest from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Residents are being encouraged to stop by the trailer to get the latest fire information, maps and closure/evacuation details.

To ensure public safety, several roads, trails and campgrounds on the Bitterroot National Forest have been closed including:

• National Forest System Road #735 from the intersection with National Forest System Road #736 to its terminus at Canyon Creek Trailhead.
• National Forest System Road #736 from the intersection with National Forest System Road #735 to its terminus at Blodgett Campground.
• National Forest System Road #714 from the intersection with State Highway 38 (Skalkaho Highway) to its terminus.
• Forest Service Trail #19 (Blodgett Creek Trail) beginning at Blodgett Campground to the intersection with Forest Service Trail #303, in Section 16 T6N, R22W.
• Forest Service Trail #101beginning in Section 29, T6N, R22W in its entirety.
• Forest Service Trail #525 beginning in Section 29, T6N, R22W in its entirety.

(Thanks to Laura Bratvold for providing the night pictures of the fire)

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The Downing Mountain Fire burning west of Hamilton has grown to 300 acres and at least 50 homes or structures are being threatened according to Tod McKay with the Bitterroot National Forest.

A retardant plane began performing drops on the fire early in the afternoon, joining the two helicopters which are being used to help battle the fire. Fire crews also have been are using dozers in an effort to tie in existing roads and create a firebreak to keep the flames away from nearby homes.

There 50 firefighters, 10 engines, dozers, water tenders, and two crews working on the fire as well as at least one helicopter and additional resources have been called in, including a Type II Management Team, which is expected to arrive Friday afternoon.

The Ravalli County Sheriff's Department has set up a road block on Wyatt Lane, but evacuated residents were being allowed back to their homes to quickly gather emergency supplies and then leave the area.

Fire Incident Commander Rick Moreno reports that they are worried that gusty winds could push the blaze from primarily a ground fire to one which will transition into a "sustained crown fire", in which more trees could be torched. Our reporter on the scene reported that by 11:15 a.m. the winds were already starting to pick up speed.

In addition to the 70 evacuations, 100 more homes are in a Stage 1 warning, meaning that they may be forced to evacuate the area on short notice. The Ravalli County Sheriff's Department reported Friday mornfing that the fire appeared to be heading up a hill off of Wyatt Lane and they are are attacking the flames at that point.

An Evacuation Center and disaster trailer have been set up at the West View Center in Hamilton while the American Red Cross has help available at the Westview Center, located at 103 South Ninth Street in Hamilton. Call the Red Cross at 1.800.ARC.MONT if you need information or assistance. People with animal and pets can also bring them to the fairgrounds.

The wildfire is continuing to burn and smoke and flames easily visible from U.S. Highway 93 South in Victor, where earlier Friday morning flames could be seen racing up a mountainside in the area.

A fire information trailer has been set up at the Hamilton Safeway lcoated on East Main Street, and will be operated daily by the Bitterroot National Forest from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Residents are being encouraged to stop by the trailer to get the latest fire information, maps and closure/evacuation details.

To ensure public safety, several roads, trails and campgrounds on the Bitterroot National Forest have been closed including:

• National Forest System Road #735 from the intersection with National Forest System Road #736 to its terminus at Canyon Creek Trailhead.
• National Forest System Road #736 from the intersection with National Forest System Road #735 to its terminus at Blodgett Campground.
• National Forest System Road #714 from the intersection with State Highway 38 (Skalkaho Highway) to its terminus.
• Forest Service Trail #19 (Blodgett Creek Trail) beginning at Blodgett Campground to the intersection with Forest Service Trail #303, in Section 16 T6N, R22W.
• Forest Service Trail #101beginning in Section 29, T6N, R22W in its entirety.
• Forest Service Trail #525 beginning in Section 29, T6N, R22W in its entirety.

(Thanks to Laura Bratvold for providing the night pictures of the fire)
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(first report) A fire is threatening numerous homes west of Hamilton and a mandatory evacuation order is in effect. The Downing Mountain Fire was first reported around 8 p.m. on Thursday evening and quickly grew to 50 and 100 acres.

The blaze was sparked by lightning from a cold front which moved through the Bitterroot Valley with 30 mph to 40 mph winds, which sparked a total of seven fires on the Bitterroot National Forest.

There are five fires currently burning in the Darby Ranger District and two fires are reported in the West Fork Ranger District.

The Bitterroot National Forest is receiving mutual aid assistance on the Downing Mountain Fire from numerous rural fire districts including Hamilton, Corvallis, Victor and Darby.

Stage 1 and Stage 2 evacuations are currently being coordinated by the Ravalli County Sheriff's Office with assistance from Hamilton Police Department. The evacuations are taking place in the Blodgett and Canyon Creek areas, approximately three miles west of Hamilton.

"All of the evacuations so far have gone very smoothly," said Ravalli County Sheriff Chris Hoffman. "We are doing our best to inform and assist residents in the affected areas. This is not an easy process for residents to be told at 3:00 a.m. that they must leave their homes which are currently threatened. Thankfully everyone has been very understanding and cooperative."

Homeowners living along Blodgett Camp Road, Canyon Creek Road, Grub Stake Road, and Owings Creek Road are all in the process of being evacuated at this time.

There are currently more than 50 homes or structures threatened by the fire. An Emergency Operations Center has been established at the Hamilton Fire Hall. Anyone needing assistance or information is being asked to call the Emergency Operations Center at (406) 375.6650.