Bitterroot Forest Reports New Wilderness Fires

New lightning-caused fires have popped up in the south end of the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, according to the Bitterroot National Forest.

Joni Lubke reports the Green Ridge Complex of fires is about 4 miles southwest of Paradise, near Spot Mountain. In fact, fire has approached within a third of a mile from the Spot Mountain Lookout, causing crews to wrap the structure with flame resistant material.

The six fires are about 28 miles west of the West Fork Ranger Station and total about 2,222 acres altogether. Personnel from the Nelson Creek Fire are helping with the Green Ridge Complex. Structure assessments are being made from Running Creek Ranch to Paradise, and from Paradise to the Magruder Crossing.

The Gardner Peak fire is 8 miles north of Paradise and the 48-acre fire is threatening the Gardner Peak lookout.

Meanwhile, the Nelson Creek Fire is about 50 percent contained and residents are still under evacuation warning levels along Nez Perce Road.

There were eleven new fires reported in the Bitterroot National Forest in the last week. Four of them were put out in the Bitterroot Valley. The others are in the Green Ridge Complex.

Air quality level at midmorning in Hamilton Wednesday, September 6, was "unhealthy."