Fire Update

Fires Still Smoldering on Blackfeet Nation

Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Currents. Discussion »

18,000 Acres Burned

BLACKFEET INDIAN RESERVATION - While the wild winter fires on the Blackfeet Nation, near Browning, Montana, are for the most part contained, there are still signs of smoldering, according to Wayne Smith, director of communications for the Blackfeet Nation.

"The smoldering fires are in the high grasses and fire fighters are there with fire engines to monitor them. We were hoping all fires would be completely contained by now, but it will be probably two weeks before we can say they are 100 percent contained,"

Smith told the Native News Network on Monday afternoon.

Last Wednesday evening two enormous fires spread quickly through 18,000 acres the reservation. The two large fires that were dubbed the "Y" fire and the "Boy" fire, respectively. The "Y" fire ran straight down Highway 2 where it meets Highway 89 and burned 6,000 acres. It ran 18 miles long and about two miles wide. The "Boy" fire was 19 miles long and engrossed some 12,000 acres.

Some 400 people were evacuated from their home, including 200 staff and students at tribal boarding school. The Red Cross came to set up two temporary housing shelters. Many tribal members opted to stay in homes of relatives on the reservation.

By Monday, those evacuated were back in their homes. Amazingly, there were no reports of loss of lives or injuries from the fires. However, during the fires two homes were damaged. One was occupied and one was vacant. The displaced occupant found other living accommodations.

The cause of the fire was reportedly from down power lines that were caused by heavy winter winds that had gusts up to 61 miles per hour. A complete assessment of damage structures and farm equipment is under way and was not complete on Monday.

posted January 10, 2011 9:50 am est