LOLO — Crews are dealing with a pair of lightning-sparked wildfires in the area of the Lolo Hot Springs along US Highway 12.
The West Fork Lolo 2 Fire is burning a mile southwest of Lolo Hot Springs and five miles west of Lee Creek Campground.
Multiple aircraft and firefighters including, one 20-person hand crew responded in initial attack and immediately conducted suppression operations and water bucket drops.
Handline was constructed Monday and containment is expected by the end of shift today. No evacuations are in effect at this time.
The fire has burned approximately four acres and the Lee Creek Campground is temporarily closed for staging of firefighting equipment. No structures are threatened at this time.
The Wagon Mountain Fire is located approximately two miles northeast of Lolo Pass Visitor Center and east of Highway 12. The blaze was detected on Aug. 5, 2019 at approximately 2:30 p.m. by aircraft responding to the West Fork Lolo 2 Fire.
After detection, multiple aircraft responded immediately along with firefighters including two engines, one 20-person hand crew from the nearby Beeskove Fire and one 10-person hand crew from the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest.
Another 20-person hand crew and an excavator arrived this morning to aid in suppression efforts, with more resources ordered and arriving.
The blaze has burned approximately 15 acres with active burning, single and group tree torching, spotting and wind-driven runs. No structures are threatened at this time.
Over the weekend, firefighters responded to four additional wildfire starts; three on the Missoula Ranger District and one on the Ninemile Ranger District.
The Lolo National Forest remains in very high fire danger.
