Firefighter safety is of particular concern on the Highway 37 Fire north of Libby because of its proximity to a patch of asbestos-contaminated forest. Among the 50 firefighters working the blaze is a group of 10 specially trained responders. They wear respirators and undergo a full body decontamination after digging fire line in a section of forest with high levels of asbestos fibers, a harmful remnant of the old W.R. Grace vermiculite mine.

Highway 37 fire, updated 4:20 p.m. July 20, 2018 A fire near the former vermiculite mine and a section of asbestos-contaminated forest outside Libby is drawing a quick response from crews working to control it. The Highway 37 Fire, spotted Thursday evening about 4 miles north of Libby, quickly grew to about 50 acres today.

A new estimate puts the Reynolds Lake Fire in the Bitterroot National Forest at more than 1,000 acres. Forest spokesman Tod McKay said the fire grew from 10-15 acres yesterday morning to 1,068 acres by the day’s end. It was pushed by 30 mile-per-hour winds.

Wildfire season has arrived as fire danger ratings are increasing in national forests and wildlands throughout Montana. The Kootenai National Forest moved to "very high" Wednesday, and the Bitterroot National Forest switched to "high" fire danger this morning following the discovery of two lightning-caused fires Tuesday. The Flathead National Forest and surrounding area has also moved their fire danger to “high” this week.

The Zulu fire that it is believed lightning started Sunday in the Kootenai National Forest north of Libby expanded to 20 acres today. Forest spokesman Willie Sykes tells the Flathead Beacon about 80 firefighters and several aircraft are fighting the fire. No structures are threatened.

The Kootenai National Forest is slated to start five salvage timber sales in areas that burned last year, and one more is pending.

Fire danger bumped up to “very high” on the Kootenai National Forest Wednesday. Crews are holding the Zulu Fire, burning about 23 miles north of Libby, to 20 acres.

The State’s fire fighting savings account started this month with the second lowest balance since it was created a decade ago. There’s only about $4 million in the fund’s reserves for this fire season. That’s about a fifth of what the state needs to cover an average fire season bill.

The Flathead Beacon is reporting that a 10 acre wildfire started on the Kootenai National Forest Sunday, 23 miles north of Libby, and is still burning Monday. Reportedly caused by lightning, the Zulu fire doesn’t threaten any structures. At least one helicopter has been dispatched to suppress the flames.

Fire potential is expected to increase Friday in parts of north-central and southwest Montana, with temperatures reaching into the upper 90s. According to the National Weather Service hot temperatures, low humidity, and winds will create critical wildfire conditions, especially along the Highway 2 corridor from Browning to Harlem.