Montana and NW Fires - The Other US Emergency

While Houston deals with the aftermath of Harvey another American Natural Disaster is burning homes, causing evacuations and leaving people with no place to live.  Those still in their homes are choking on smoke, many schools and businesses are closed and people are living with their personal items packed and ready to go.  Compounding the issue is many roads are surrounded by fire and closed except for emergency.

The sense of panic is growing and the feeling nobody is paying attention is compounding the problem.  This post will be a compilation of some communication and posts and photos from my friends in Montana, keep them in your thoughts..  Many of the photos are beautiful, yet terrible.

"Friends we were just notified it is time to leave, we have the dogs, photo albums and our family.  We have opened the gates for the horses and our phone number is written on their hoofs in permanent marker we are headed to Idaho to stay with family, please keep our home and large animals in your prayers, Fire Fighters, please stay safe." Lona H.

Lolo Mt, near Missoula, Mt.

 

 LORD HELP US PLEASE!!! We have a HUGE Fire in the NW Corner of MT that has started taking Amish Homes and Farms. For those you you the watch Mountain Man, this is 5-10 miles away from where Tom Orr lives. The fire is completely out of control and a mind of its own. Yesterday it was around 6,600 acres and this morning it is now at 13,797 acres!!! it has MORE THEN DOUBLED overnight!!!  - Gary Britton

Over Missoula - by Teresa N.

LABOR DAY is not being celebrated in Montana Today...ONLY Labor at fighting fires! Homes have been lost in the North end of the Yaak. A whole Amish community has had to evacuate or lost homes. We have ASH and Massive Smoke in the Kootenai River Valley. If you look at the bottom of my screen shot you can measure just how far the fire is from my home (approx 9 miles now) and the wind is blowing from the NE. We have pre-packed and are ready for any pre-evacuation notices. NOT a Holiday Weekend in MT as Fires are everywhere and over 700,000 acres have burned up!!!  Gary Britton

 

*caters news agency
WE NOW have a 800 acre fire burning 10 miles from our house. We are starting to pre-pack important items just to be pro-active instead of waiting for orders. This weekend is going to be spent for fire prep instead of opening Archery Season...too HOT and Dangerous to hunt right now. Gary Britton

*Gary Britton - used with permission

 Pray for snow for Montana they are saying it is the only way to end this fire season (we know we are a long ways off from snow). Today, we woke up with ash falling everywhere in the valley like snow.
Our govenor filed state of emergancy, July 24 and was denied the first go around. (Last Friday, Govenor Bullock put in an another executive order of Disaster) This is the worst fire season we have seen since 1910.
As said in other posts. Everyone in Montana is doing what they can to make a difference. Fire fighters need care packages, Evacuee's need help. In natural disasters it's about coming together, not tearing each other apart.
Update 45 Active Fires as of last night, several uncontained. Over 600,000 acres lost and more predicted fires over Labor day weekend. We are in a drought, with no chance of precipitation.
I know we don't compare to the loss of the people of Texas, Texas and this 2nd predicted hurricane. Pray for everyone involved in a natural disaster fighting to help our states and for every individual. Thank you to our NW neighboring States for being on Stand by over Labor day weekend and to all the states/countries, individuals currently fighting. More fires predicted to come.
Update from a few days ago. Fires have grown rapidly since this post. http://www.ktvq.com/…/over-half-a-million-acres-lost-to-mon…

“The air in Seeley Lake is still hazardous, I just talked to someone from the EPA and they said they’ve never seen anywhere in the United States have this kind of wildfire smoke exposure to prolonged hazardous conditions as what Seeley Lake has seen,” Coefield . Seeley Lake right now they are eight times worse than Lolo and Florence, which are three times worse than Missoula.”Read More: Missoula County Smoke Problem Apparently Unprecedented in U.S. And Canada | http://newstalkkgvo.com/missoula-county-smoke-problem-app…/…More evacuations from another fire today.
http://flatheadbeacon.com/…/glacier-national-park-prepares…/Our friends in Oregon are right behind at 300,000 acres burned. As well as most of the western States have fires starting. Most are due to lightning. It doesn't matter that more acres burned here. They need just as many prayers. (Sharing this to bring awareness to MT.)

tarting. Most are due to lightning. It doesn't matter that more acres burned here. They need just as many prayers. (Sharing this to bring awareness to MT.)http://www.kpax.com/story/36284383/dense-wildfire-smoke-covers-much-of-western-montana

 The air quality was listed as Hazardous in Missoula for the first time this fire season. Hazardous air quality was also being reported in Seeley Lake once again and was listed as Hazardous in Florence, Lolo and the Potomac as of mid-morning.When air quality is Hazardous, all people should limit or avoid outdoor exertion and leave the area or stay indoors with filtered air when possible. The air quality was Very Unhealthy in Missoula, Frenchtown, Seeley Lake, and Rainy Lake and unhealthy in Hamilton, Rock Creek and Arlee.When air quality is Unhealthy, people with heart or lung disease, smokers, children and the elderly should limit heavy or prolonged exertion and limit time spent outdoors. When air quality is Very Unhealthy, people with heart or lung disease, smokers, children and the elderly should avoid heavy or prolonged exertion and stay indoors when possible, people with asthma should follow asthma management plan. The Flathead Valley and the Thompson Falls area were seeing air quality listed as Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. 

Here is an article outlining the various fires and the status from this morning, it is lengthy, so I will only post the link. http://www.nbcmontana.com/news/wildfires/montana-wildfire-updates-for-september-4-2017/616362447I have received permission to use these photos and text to spread awareness of what is happening in Montana.
 

Please keep Montana in your prayers as the situation is only worse today, with hot, dry winds sending the fires across dry forests and difficult terrain.