Information remains scarce on major Mount Baldy fire

A fire started on Mount Baldy Wednesday and, while fire crews and law enforcement across the three counties the fire has spread to are responding, information on the fire remains somewhat scarce.

Chippewa Cree Business Committee Chair Harlan Baker said, according to this morning's update, the fire had reached 2,000 acres but the fire has since spread significantly and that number is now very outdated.

Baker said Rocky Boy has sent crews to fight the fire and air tankers from Missoula are assisting, but he's not sure what the level of containment is at this point but may know later in the day.

A post on the Bear Paw Ski Bowl's Facebook page Wednesday evening said another tanked was coming from Coeur D'Alene, Idaho as well.

A post this morning said Ski Bowl personnel had talked to the the pilot of the lead plane, who said the ski bowl was in good standing and the fire was pushing eastward. The pilot said this plane is the most extreme he has seen this year.

Baker said the tribal government is limiting access to the affected areas, but have not had any evacuations yet.

He said as far as he knows, the cause of the fire is still being investigated, but there has been no loss of life or injury yet, which he and his colleagues are thankful for.

Baker said he knows that some ranch houses and bunk houses were caught in the flames so there has been some structure loss on the far side of Mount Baldy.

He said the situation is changing rapidly and this information may be out of date as well, and they will be getting updated information later this morning.

The fire continue to burn this morning on the west side of the mountain in Rocky Boy and on the south side in Blaine County and the flames have also spread into Chouteau County as well.

Chouteau County DES confirmed this morning the fire was in Chouteau County but that the department had little additional information at that point.

Wednesday afternoon, Hill County Disaster and Emergency Services put out an advisory for people to stay off of Taylor Road from Beaver Creek Park to Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation.

Hill County DES Coordinator Amanda Frickel said Wednesday afternoon that people on the park have not been ordered to evacuate yet, but have been issued a warning that it might be necessary depending on how the situation develops.

Blaine County Disaster and Emergency Services Administrative Assistant Lindsay Lowe said they haven't received an update this morning yet but will know more this afternoon.

She said she's knows there have been some evacuation, but isn't sure how many fall in Blaine County, but they have nor received any emergency requests.

The Havre Daily News was awaiting a release from Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation when this article went to press.

Havre Daily News will update information online as it becomes available, with full coverage in upcoming editions.