Missoula County Sheriff deputies today warned residents of Horseback Ridge near Missoula to prepare for evacuation, after a new wildfire was discovered Thursday afternoon. It’s located at Blue Mountain on the southwest side of Missoula.
Missoula Rural Fire District Deputy Chief / Fire Marshal Chris Newman:
“(The) first crew arrived on scene to about 2-3 acres of mostly...it sounded like burning in grass, and a little bit of brush. Didn’t get into the timber at all, which is obviously a good thing.”
The Missoula Rural Fire Department and the state have sent 6 engines and a helicopter.
In the Bitterroot, the Observation Fire about 10 miles south of Hamilton has grown from 600 acres yesterday to nearly 1,000 acres today.
Residents in 200 homes remained on notice today to prepare for possible evacuation.
There will be a public meeting tomorrow at 7:00 p.m. at the Community Center in Darby, to update residents on operations.
