MONTANA FIRES KEEP GROWING, NEW FIRE FORCES EVACUATIONS NEAR EVARO

Across the board, Montana fires grew in drier weather Tuesday, but heavy incoming smoke from Idaho fires helped keep fire activity close to the ground on some blazes.

Fires in Southcentral Montana are getting more attention and resources as the fire season continues, with the Wicked Hicks Complex growing some 10,000 acres from Tuesday morning and the Columbine Fire in Yellowstone National Park growing enough to force the park to again close the eastern entrance.

Meanwhile, a new fire sprouted northwest of Missoula Tuesday, forcing the immediate evacuation of some 20 homes near Evaro west of Highway 93 and north of Interstate 90. The Black Cat Fire started just east of Frenchtown Pond and has so far burned 600 acres in steep, rocky terrain.

East of Missoula, the Sawmill Complex near Rock Creek also saw some action Tuesday and grew to 27,250 acres. Fire officials are expecting more activity in the next two days and so they ordered more evacuations along Rock Creek Road Tuesday. About 77 homes and cabins, not all occupied, were evacuated by 8 a.m. Wednesday.

The Jocko Lakes Fire near Seeley continues to be the nation's top priority fire, but the Chippy Creek Fire burning near Thompson Falls is on the rise for priority as well. It is number two for priority and the largest fire in Montana this season at 77,500 acres. Next on the priority list is the Columbine Fire in Yellowstone National Park and then the Sawmill Complex, followed by the Wicked Hicks Complex.

Priority fires are first in line for national resources, like firefighting crews, incident management teams and air support.