LIBBY – The Ten Mile fire which is burning 19 miles southwest of Eureka is holding at 680 acres with containment growing to 70% on Monday.
Meanwhile, the nearby Pinkham Tower fire has burned 478 acres and the Huckleberry fire has scorched 283 acres. There is no containment on either of the blazes. The Huckleberry and Cliff fires continued to burn together on Monday and are now being referred to as the Huckleberry fire.
Fire managers say crews used previously constructed dozer lines from the Ten Mile fire on Monday to directly attack the fires. Heavy machinery and firefighters also continued working on the Pinkham Tower Fire by creating fire lines. Aircraft also dropped water on the blazes on Monday.
A pre-evacuation notice remains in effect for Edna Creek Road, Lake Creek Road, Sutton Ridge Road, and Swamp Creek Road. Residents in those areas are being advised be prepared to evacuate on short notice The most up-to-date evacuation information can be found by calling (406) 293-6295.
Crews will continue to mop up on the Ten Mile fire on Tuesday while firefighters will work to keep the fires south of Buckhorn Creek, Bear Lake, and Hamilton Creek and west of private lands in Swamp Creek and Edna Creek.
Several road and trail closures remain in effect in the area and Stage I Fire Restrictions remain in effect on the Kootenai National Forest. A Type 2 Northern Rockies Incident Management Team and 286 people are assigned to battle the blazes in Lincoln County.
