Rice Ridge Fire
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| Rice Ridge Fire | |
|---|---|
 Rice Ridge Fire on September 12, 2017 | |
| Date(s) | July 24, 2017 – |
| Location | Lolo National Forest, Montana in the United States |
| Coordinates | 47°16′N 113°19′W / 47.27°N 113.31°W |
| Statistics[1][2] | |
| Burned area | 155,900 acres (631 km2) |
| Impacts | |
| Damage | $33.8 million |
| Ignition | |
| Cause | Lightning |
| Map | |
  Location of fire in Montana. | |
The Rice Ridge Fire was a wildfire that burned northeast of Seeley Lake in the Lolo National Forest in Montana in the United States. The fire, which was started by a lightning strike on July 24, 2017, became a megafire on September 3, growing from 40,000 acres (162 km2) to over 100,000 acres (405 km2), at which time it became the nation’s top wildfire priority as of early September 2017.[3][4] Located north and east of Seeley Lake, Montana, over 700 firefighting personnel were assigned to the blaze, primarily active in a mountainous lodgepole and mixed conifer forest.[4] The fire had burned 155,900 acres (631 km2) and at one point threatened over 1,000 homes in Powell County and Missoula County including the town of Seeley Lake, Montana and areas north of Highway 200, east of Highway 83. Evacuation orders included parts of Powell County north of Montana Highway 200,[5] areas east of Montana Highway 83, and evacuation warnings for other sections of the forest within Missoula County.[6]
The Rice Ridge Fire was started by a lightning strike on July 24, 2017.[4] By August 5, the fire had spread near Morrell Falls and made runs towards the Bob Marshall Wilderness. Aircraft focused on making water drops while crews worked on protective activities along Highway 83 and on the northside of Seeley Lake and Double Arrow Lodge. Evacuation warnings were put in place for residents of on both side of Highway 83 south of Rice Ridge Road to Morrell Creek and south of Cottonwood Lakes Road, east of Highway 83, including Seeley Lake and Double Arrow Lodge. The American Red Cross opened a shelter at the Potomac Community Center.[7] On September 6, a drone flew into the restricted fire area, causing fire protection work to stop temporarily.[8]
As of August 7, Seeley Lake itself was closed so that aerial crews could draw water from the lake, but the homes and businesses around the lake were open.[9] The fire burned on the east side of Rice Ridge and in Swamp Creek.[10] Crews shifted to focus on containing the fire on Morrell Mountain, also protecting the Morrell Mountain Lookout.[11] Seeley Lake re-opened for recreational use on August 18.[12] The next day, one campground remained closed and the fire had grown in Cottonwood Creek, causing Lolo National Forest to expand closures.[13]
On August 24, a forest service road, running north along Cottonwood Canyon, was evacuated due to threats to two cabins.[14] Two trails were also closed.[15] By the 27th, the fire had expanded to 22,427 acres (91 km2) and threatened 1,060 homes.[16] The next day, Seeley Lake was once more closed for recreational use.[17] A third drone flight through the fire zone caused the crew activities to stop that evening.[18] Mandatory evacuations were put in place due to the fire threatening 580 homes in the Seeley Lake area and schools were closed.[19]
