Fire season continues (Missoula, Kalispell, Lakeside: houses, school, live)

[Ric Carter]

I was at some friends last night, and we spotted some smoke over the ridges from their deck. It looked suspiciously close to my cabin, and as I headed home after dark, I could see a lot of active fire. It is burning about 1 1/2 miles south of my cabin, and a couple miles west of Lakeside. I am hoping the wind doesn't come up like it did yesterday, blowing up to 30 mph.
I went up the mountain this morning to take a look, and it appeared most of the other people from this area were also up there checking it out. I took one pic of where it was crested over the ridge on my side. I went on up the mountain, and could see there was probably another couple hundred acres involved over there.
Right now, there are bombers and helicopters working the fire, so I have a pretty good airshow from my deck. I doubt there are any firefighters on the ground, as it is very steep and rocky on the larger part of the fire.
The solstice storms are running late this year, and I do hope they arrive soon!
Be aware this is fairly common in western Montana, and air quality can go from excellent, to very unhealthy in a short amount of time.

[ElkHunter]

We've been lucky so far this year. Really hasn't been anything.

[rickers]

We were lucky earlier having the fire season start late but at this time InciWeb Montana is showing 12 active fires.

[Stephan_K]

The west valley is completely full of smoke right now ! Been that way most of the day.

[CatherineFrances]

The forest fire smoke and 'normal smog' has been very bad in Missoula, MT. NOT as bad as a couple of years ago though.

I have not been up to the Yaak region to see how it was up there or over towards Bonners Ferry, Idaho for a couple of months now. I ususally go up there often but this summer has been CRAZY for us.

Usually it settles down some up that way. A few years ago it was horrific (The smoke.) down in Missoula, all over the place in Western Montana and even in Kalispell - even INSIDE of a restaurant. That was with their a/c on and air filters!

My groom/husband who was born and raised in Missoula said that it even bothered him and he was 'used to it' since he was a KID in the early 1950's and on. He did live on the 'High Line' for a couple of years while his late Father taught school up there. He said that when he visited his grandparents up in NW MT right below B.C., Canada - it was not smoggy up there - many moons ago.

I am not used to summer 'smog' and I am not used to the smog in the winter with the temperature inversions. I am not even talking about the forest fire smoke which is a different kind of smog. It is hard on me physically even though I do not have 'lung' problems, etc. My late husband would not have been able to handle the smog in this town at all due to his physical problems. We had been looking up north anyway previous to his cancer discovery and death in our former home/state.

Catherine

[mtlogger]

We have three fires burning near us - nothing to worry about yet.....

[Timberwolf232]

We had a new one pop up in the Bridgers this weekend also. 350 acres or so. It's pretty much handled, but we can still smell it.

[rickers]

I enjoy watching a big fire from a distance but I sure as heck don't like breathing the smoke or hearing about houses and barns burning up. Maybe it's the "Eddie Munster" in me but a fire is hypnotizing no matter if it's in a fire ring or on a hillside, I have to watch it.

[grannymontanny]

to close for comfort,,,,out our front porch.
http://www.city-data.com/forum/members/grannymontanny-41685-albums-around-home.html

edited to note _i do have a zoom camera.but since we are off beirney creek rd,it is close