KPAX.com

Tagged News

• Missing Bitterroot NF weather station gear located

  April 23, 2012 10:41 AM

  STEVENSVILLE- Bitterroot National Forest managers say they've found missing weather station equipment that was worth several thousand dollars along the Eastside Highway near Stevensville. The Forest Service had asked for the public's help in finding the expensive high-tech equipment after a fire crew discovered the gear was missing off... more »

• Bitterroot National Forest to light prescribed burns

  April 16, 2012 11:33 AM

  HAMILTON- The return to warmer, drier conditions has managers at the Bitterroot National Forest ready to start their prescribed fire program, with 11 different fires that will be ignited in the coming weeks. The U.S. Forest Service uses the fires to cut the risk of large, high intensity wildfires, get... more »

• Public comment sought on timber project at ski area

  December 2, 2011 6:23 PM

  HAMILTON- The Bitterroot National Forest wants to know what you think about a proposed timber salvage project at Lost Trail Powder Mountain Ski Area. If approved, crews would harvest 250 acres of trees attacked or killed by the mountain pine beetle next summer. "This is a serious situation and... more »

• Bitterroot wildfires keep burning

  October 3, 2011 2:34 PM

  HAMILTON- Bitterroot National Forest officials report the thunderstorms that brought rain to the valley on Saturday night also packed quite a bit of lightning that sparked a quartet of new fires. The Forest's Tod McKay says that two of the blazes were spotted Saturday night on the West Fork... more »

• Saddle Complex Fire area closure lifted

  September 28, 2011 6:28 PM

  Hamilton- The Bitterroot National Forest announced it lifted the emergency closure for the Saddle Complex Fire on the West Fork Ranger District. The closure, which took effect on August 24, will re-open a number roads and trails south of Painted Rocks Reservoir on Thursday, September 29. Those roads and... more »

• More improvements coming to Lake Como

  September 27, 2011 11:40 AM

  HAMILTON- A new and improved boat ramp is being installed this week at Lake Como. The larger, concrete ramp will double the size of the launch area at the popular lake. The boat launch will be closed to the public through the end of October as crews work to... more »

• 41 Complex fires at over 11,000 acres

  September 14, 2011 1:29 PM

  HAMILTON- The 41 Complex fires have grown to over 11,000 acres and officials say the price tag to fight the blazes burning in the Sapphire Mountains is now at over $3 million. There are over 365 people along with 14 engines and three helicopters currently fighting the lightning-sparked blaze... more »

• Saddle Complex fires burning over 31,000 acres

  September 13, 2011 1:13 PM

  HAMILTON- The Saddle Complex fires burning in the southern Bitterroot Valley and adjacent Lemhi County Idaho have now consumed nearly 31,400 acres. Fire officials say that smoke cleared sooner on Monday than anticipated, which meant there was some more active burning in the areas of the fire that are... more »

• Weather keeping 41 Complex Fire from spreading faster Play Video

  September 8, 2011 8:18 PM

  HAMILTON- The 41 Complex Fire burning in the Bitterroot National Forest grew to more than 6,000 acres. The smoke will continue to linger in the Bitterroot Valley because of the temperature inversions and while the inversions may not be helping the air quality, but they are keeping the fire... more »

• Saddle Complex fires keep growing

  September 8, 2011 4:27 PM

  HAMILTON- The Saddle Complex fires have added a few hundred more acres as the blaze continues to burn in the southern Bitterroot Valley and Lemhi County Idaho. Fire officials report that at last check around 29,600 acres have burned as nearly 250 personnel continue to fight the lightning-sparked fires... more »

• Saddle Complex fires see little growth

  September 6, 2011 4:56 PM

  HAMILTON- Fire officials say that the Saddle Complex fires burning in the souther Bitterroot Valley saw some "moderate" growth on Labor Day, adding about 240 acres. But, most of the fire activity happened inside the firelines. Fire managers lifted the Stage 1 Evacuation for all homes south of Painted... more »

• 41 Complex fires at nearly 1,100 acres

  September 2, 2011 3:31 PM

  HAMILTON- The 41 Complex fires burning east of Hamilton is at nearly 1,100 acres with about 100 personnel still assigned to battle the three fires. The lightning-sparked blazes were first spotted on August 28th and continues burning in heavy timber in the Sapphire Mountains. Crews are working to keep... more »

• Saddle Complex fires hold steady

  September 2, 2011 1:00 PM

  HAMILTON- Fire officials report that the Saddle Complex fires burning in the southern Bitterroot Valley saw little growth on Thursday and a total of 26,415 acres have burned so far. Firefighters spent most of the day on patrol handling hot spots close to the fire perimeter and report that... more »

• Weather aids Saddle Complex firefighting efforts

  September 1, 2011 11:18 AM

  HAMILTON- Fire officials report that the Wednesday's cooler weather has helped to slow the spread of the Saddle Complex fires burning the southern Bitterroot Valley. The blaze held pretty steady Wednesday and has burned nearly 26,000 acres in the Bitterroot National Forest and adjoining Salmon-Challis in Lemhi County, Idaho.... more »

• 41 Complex fires burning 800 acres near Hamilton

  August 31, 2011 11:08 PM

  HAMILTON- There are 100 personnel attacking the 41 Complex fires that are burning 800 acres in the Sapphire Mountains about 10 miles from Hamilton. The blaze is continuing to send smoke billowing across the Bitterroot Valley and can easily be seen from downtown Hamilton. But fire officials report... more »

• Work continues on Saddle Complex fires

  August 31, 2011 10:58 AM

  HAMILTON- Firefighters battling the Saddle Complex fires in the Southern Bitterroot Valley got a break from Mother Nature on Tuesday after predicted high winds failed to materialize. The weather allowed crews to keep strengthening the firelines on the over 25,000 acre blaze that's burning in the Bitterroot National Forest... more »

• Saddle Complex fire officials brace for winds Play Video

  August 30, 2011 1:37 PM

  HAMILTON- Fire officials managing the Saddle Complex fire burning in the Southern Bitterroot are bracing for an expected uptick in winds on Tuesday afternoon. While the blaze that's burning in the Bitterroot National forest and adjacent Salmon-Challis National Forest in Idaho has held steady at just under 24,000 acres... more »

• Saddle Complex fire roars into Montana Play Video

  August 24, 2011 12:40 AM

  DARBY- Some Bitterroot Valley fire department members spent Tuesday up the West Fork of the Bitterroot knocking on doors and issuing a stage one evacuation alert, warning homeowners about an approaching complex of wildfires. They also assessed the homes and structures in the area and evaluated how best to protect... more »

• Lightning sparks Bitterroot wildfires

  August 5, 2011 4:07 PM

  HAMILTON- Thursday night's storms brought rain, wind and lightning to parts of western Montana and also sparked a trio of wildfires in Ravalli County. The Bitterroot National Forest reports that firefighters are on the scene of two wildfires which were sparked by lightning on Thursday Night. The largest blaze,... more »

• National Trails Day project on tap in the Bitterroot

  June 1, 2011 6:36 PM

  HAMILTON- Trails in the Larry Creek area on the Bitterroot National Forest will get some extra attention on National Trails Day this Saturday. The Bitterroot Back Country Horsemen (BBCH) and Boy Scout Troop 117 will complete maintenance on the popular hiking and horseback riding area that gets heavy use. ... more »

• Firewood permits available April 1 in Bitterroot Valley

  March 30, 2011 6:27 PM

  HAMILTON- Cutting permits for personal firewood go on sale this Friday at all Bitterroot National Forest offices. The permits are good for one year through March 31, 2012. They allow woodcutters to take up to 12 cords of firewood. The cost is $7 per cord and there is a $28... more »

• Vandalism discovered at Lake Como

  March 28, 2011 5:13 PM

  HAMILTON- Authorities need your help identifying vandals who caused $15,000 in damage to picnic tables at Lake Como over the weekend. A Forest Service law enforcement officer on routine patrol discovered the damage on Sunday. "This latest vandalism is disturbing but unfortunately it's nothing new," said Bitterroot National Forest... more »

• Logging starting up in Larry Creek area

  January 31, 2011 10:48 AM

  HAMILTON - The Bitterroot National Forest reports that travelers in the Bass Creek Recreation Area and Charles Waters Memorial Campground near Stevensville should be on the lookout for logging traffic in the area. The work will start up later this week and will last until early March. Travelers are... more »

• Bitterroot Ntl. Forest Christmas tree permits available

  November 16, 2010 12:20 PM

  HAMILTON - Cutting your own Christmas tree is a special holiday outing available to those who live near National Forest Lands. There's an abundant choice of trees and species on the Bitterroot National Forest, BUT In order to remove a Christmas tree from the National Forest, you need to... more »

• Wildfires spark in the Bitterroot

  October 3, 2010 2:35 PM

  HAMILTON - A wildfire burning in the Bitterroot National Forest has grown to 100 acres forcing officials to close a trail in the Darby Ranger District. The Hubert Fire has prompted the closure of Camas Lake Trail (#125) to the public due to active wildfire conditions in the area... more »