LOLO – Crews battled a wildfire just west of Lolo from the air and on the ground on Tuesday afternoon.
Missoula Rural Fire District (MRFD) Battalion Chief Blaine Cowan says firefighters were dispatched shortly before 3:30 p.m. on reports of a smoke sighting Blue Mountain and US Highway 12 in Lolo
MRFD, along with the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), responded to the area of Cochise Drive near Deadman’s Gulch.
Cowan says the first arriving engines found an approximate one-acre fire on the ridge just east of Sleeman Creek drainage burning in grass and timber. A DNRC helicopter was called in to help knock down the flames.
MRFD also told the closest residents of Sleeman Creek drainage about the fire, but Cowan notes no structures were threatened.
The fire was contained, and mop-up efforts will continue through Wednesday and the DNRC has assumed command of the incident and remained on the scene overnight.
The cause of the fire is most likely lightning and will continue to be investigated during the fire suppression efforts, according to Cowan.
