Marcia Hogan, spokeswoman for the Southwest Montana Coordination Center, said the Upper Monture fire is one remainder of the Seeley Complex fires started by lightning July 13. They have consumed about 1,250 acres, with the Upper Monture fire continuing to burn in steep terrain. Hogan said firefighters were pulled from the fire last week because of a lack of escape routes, and are now reduced to fighting the fire by dropping water on the edges. The Alberton Gorge recreation area has been closed so helicopters could safely scoop water from the Clark Fork River to dump on the growing, 20-acre Freezeout Fire west of Alberton. Tankers also were hitting it with retardant, and bulldozers were cutting fire lines.
Officials don t know what started the fire.
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