More evacuation warnings issued for...
SEELEY LAKE, Mont. - The Missoula County Sheriff's Office extended an evacuation warning for Cottonwood Lakes Road. The area has been closed to access after the Rice Ridge Fire has grown 300 to 500 acres Monday, totaling 1,994 acres. An evacuation warning was issued Monday for Placid Lake, affecting around 170 residents.
The Seeley Lake Elementary School was packed with residents wanting more information, and officials say community members should get used to firefighters in town. A Type II Incident Team will be relieving the current team.
Seeley Lake and Placid Lake sit between the Liberty Fire to the west and the Rice Ridge Fire to the northeast. Officials say the fire is about 3 miles from communities in either direction.
The Liberty Fire started on July 15 and was under the control of the CSKT Division of Fire. Since its start the fire was holding at 600 acres. Sunday one fire spot grew 80 acres in 15 minutes, eventually growing 1,600 acres in one burn period. It spread from the Flathead Reservation to the Lolo National Forest.
Authorities say fire crews are gearing up for a strong wind event expected on Wednesday.
"With no containment on (the fire) we can expect more growth. It really just depends on the wind and if those winds line up with the canyon and those kinds of things. If those things come together you can expect more rapid growth," said public information officer Richard Hadley.
The Liberty Fire is burning into areas that were affected by the 2007 Jocko Fire, which burned more than 60,000 acres.
The Missoula County Sheriff's Office says they have simplified the evacuation process. Law enforcement will attempt to make personal contact with residents in the case of an evacuation warning and will give residents a yellow informational sheet.
When under an evacuation warning officials say to get your belongings and important documents in order, make accommodations for your pets and let law enforcement know if your home has an elderly or ill resident.
An evacuation order is issued with a red sheet, and that means it's time to go. Best case scenario -- residents will typically have between 24 and 48 hours to leave.
Brenda Bassett, the public information officer for the sheriff's department, says if law enforcement isn't able to get to the neighborhood you can expect to hear a siren.
If the fire moves closer to Morrell Creek and Cottonwood Lakes Road law enforcement may initiate an evacuation warning or order. These are major areas of risk because of the amount of structures and residents.
Both fires are expected to grow in size because of these dry conditions. No rain is in the foreseeable forecast. Officials say they are generating computer models to predict fire movements and see if it could make its way toward the Rattlesnake Wilderness.
As of July 30 the cost of the Liberty Fire was $900,000, and that number is expected to grow as the fire requires more resources.
Authorities say Montanans can expect another month of fire activity because the 2017 fire season started about two weeks early.
"We live here together in Seeley Lake, and we all want to see a sustainable way of life. It takes a village to make it work and coordinate law enforcement and the rules in place to protect the values at risk," said Seeley Lake District Ranger Rachel Fiegley.
The sheriff's office says if you haven't activated your Smart 911 you can do so here.
Currently closures in the Seeley Lake area include:
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More evacuation warnings issued for Liberty, Rice Ridge fires - NBC Montana