Firefighters battle 2 new wildfires near Frenchtown
MISSOULA, Mont. — Fire crews from Lolo National Forest and Montana DNRC are working to contain two new wildfires reported after 3:30 p.m. Friday, July 24, with agencies coordinating resources and air operations despite the fires falling under separate management jurisdictions.
The Elder 1 Fire was detected in the Ninemile Ranger District of the Lolo National Forest, about seven miles southwest of Frenchtown in the Rock Creek area.
The fire was burning through heavy timber at a moderate rate of spread and was estimated at five acres.
Engines from the Lolo National Forest and the Frenchtown Rural Fire District were dispatched, along with helicopters and additional incoming air support.
A second fire, the Elder 2 Fire, was burning about three miles north of Soudan off West Ninemile Road. Estimated at two acres, the fire was hung up on a high-elevation ridge.
Because of rugged terrain, the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation deployed helitack firefighters to insert directly near the ridgeline.