Skillet Fire Burns 2,500 Acres Near Tally Lake, Montana

The Skillet Fire, ignited last week in the Tally Lake area west of Whitefish, Montana, has expanded to nearly 2,500 acres. Fire crews are establishing anchor points on the southern and eastern edges to prevent the blaze from moving north, while contending with extensive blowdown from a previous fire that left large trees and debris in the path.

Operations Section Chief Chad Olsen noted the difficulty of accessing the fire due to the fallen timber, but heavy equipment may aid containment efforts. Residents of the Good Creek and Alder Creek areas were ordered to evacuate over the weekend. The fire follows other active incidents in the state, including the Elder Fire in the Lolo National Forest and several smaller fires in the Sapphire Mountains and surrounding regions.