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Ashley Lake Fire explodes in the Missions

ST. IGNATIUS - Monday evening the Ashley Lake Fire, which had not grown significantly since it started from a lightning strike two weeks ago, exploded on the Missions.

The fire, which had been two acres in size, erupted and by Tuesday morning had burst to 80 acres.

The Ashley Lake fire, highly visible from the valley floor, has been showing smoke daily and detonated large plumes of smoke late Monday evening. The Ashley Lake Fire is burning in the Grizzly Bear Management Zone of the Mission Mountains Tribal Wilderness well away from roads and developed areas. According to fire management officials, it poses no threat to local residents below the canal. Fire management officials are monitoring the area closely. The Grizzly Bear Management Zone is closed to all recreation use from July 15 to October 1. A red flag warning was issued Tuesday morning due to wind and low relative humidity.

Fire management officials were continuing with an aerial assessment of the complex fire as of press time Tuesday.

The Ashley Lake Fire was spotted by fire lookouts on August 8. It has been burning in a high elevation area north of the picturesque Garden Wall, which is unsafe for firefighters, because of the steep and rocky terrain. The area, which possesses snag hazards, also creates hazards for aviation resources.

Visibility was noticeably compromised Tuesday, not only by the Ashley Lake Fire, but from the Clearwater Forest fires in neighboring Idaho as well. Fire management officials were ordering aerial and fire fighting resources Tuesday night. The fire danger on the Flathead Indian Reservation remains very high to extreme. Stage II fire restrictions remain in effect. For more fire information contact Curtis Matt at 676-2550 or Germaine White at 883-2888.

ST. IGNATIUS - A community meeting has been scheduled for 7 p.m. tonight at the St. Ignatius Community Center. Everyone interested or with questions or concerns regarding the Ashley Lake Fire, should attend. Fire management officials, as well as resource and emergency preparedness personnel will be on hand to provide an update on the fire.