Montana fires shroud valley in smoke/More than 941,000 acres burning in 11 Western states

HAMILTON, Mont. - Hundreds of residents driven from their homesby smoke and flames were allowed to return for a few hours Sunday,but later wind-driven blazes erupted and forced additional emergencyevacuations, including a major fire camp.

"This is the most awesome fire I've ever experienced," JodyEberly, an information officer with 20 years' experience fightingwildfires. The blazes shrouded the Bitterroot Valley in southwesternMontana with smoke.

Elsewhere, crews made progress against dozens of wildfires in thenorthern Rockies.

The blaze near Hamilton crossed a highway and was threateningnumerous buildings in the area, authorities said.

Residents of the area where a voluntary evacuation was requestedearlier were being rousted by Ravalli County sheriff's deputies andtold to leave immediately.

Hundreds of firefighters camped at Sula, at the base of LostTrail Pass into Idaho, were shifted to a safer location as the firesadvanced north and east, officials said.

Forecasts Sunday offered little hope of relief from the hot, dryweather that has helped create what officials are calling the worstfire season in the West in 50 years.

The Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, listed 64 majorfires burning Sunday on 941,700 acres in Arizona, California,Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah,Washington and Wyoming.

Fires have blackened 62,000 acres in the Bitterroot Valley, wheremore than 1,200 firefighters are at work.

About 300 residents evacuated Wednesday as the Blodgett Creekfire neared their homes were allowed to check their property duringthe day Sunday. At the same time, another 300 people in the Pinesdalearea, about 10 miles north of Hamilton, were told they might have toleave. About 30 percent of the Blodgett blaze was contained by firelines, but there was no containment of a 42,000-acre fire at thesouth end of the Bitterroot Valley.

Sections of U.S. Highway 93 through the Bitterroot Valley werereopened Sunday, but the smoke was so thick that officials sent outpilot cars to guide motorists.

Firefighters in Nevada reported they were near containment onseveral large blazes, but one grass and brush fire near Fernley,about 30 miles east of Reno, exploded from 900 acres to more than5,000 Sunday after winds picked up.

On the Net

National Fire Information Center: www.nifc.gov

Forest Service links: www.fs.fed.us/fire/links2.shtml

Montana fires shroud valley in smoke/More than 941,000 acres burning in 11 Western states

HAMILTON, Mont. - Hundreds of residents driven from their homesby smoke and flames were allowed to return for a few hours Sunday,but later wind-driven blazes erupted and forced additional emergencyevacuations, including a major fire camp.

"This is the most awesome fire I've ever experienced," JodyEberly, an information officer with 20 years' experience fightingwildfires. The blazes shrouded the Bitterroot Valley in southwesternMontana with smoke.

Elsewhere, crews made progress against dozens of wildfires in thenorthern Rockies.

The blaze near Hamilton crossed a highway and was threateningnumerous buildings in the area, authorities said.

Residents of the area where a voluntary evacuation was requestedearlier were being rousted by Ravalli County sheriff's deputies andtold to leave immediately.

Hundreds of firefighters camped at Sula, at the base of LostTrail Pass into Idaho, were shifted to a safer location as the firesadvanced north and east, officials said.

Forecasts Sunday offered little hope of relief from the hot, dryweather that has helped create what officials are calling the worstfire season in the West in 50 years.

The Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, listed 64 majorfires burning Sunday on 941,700 acres in Arizona, California,Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah,Washington and Wyoming.

Fires have blackened 62,000 acres in the Bitterroot Valley, wheremore than 1,200 firefighters are at work.

About 300 residents evacuated Wednesday as the Blodgett Creekfire neared their homes were allowed to check their property duringthe day Sunday. At the same time, another 300 people in the Pinesdalearea, about 10 miles north of Hamilton, were told they might have toleave. About 30 percent of the Blodgett blaze was contained by firelines, but there was no containment of a 42,000-acre fire at thesouth end of the Bitterroot Valley.

Sections of U.S. Highway 93 through the Bitterroot Valley werereopened Sunday, but the smoke was so thick that officials sent outpilot cars to guide motorists.

Firefighters in Nevada reported they were near containment onseveral large blazes, but one grass and brush fire near Fernley,about 30 miles east of Reno, exploded from 900 acres to more than5,000 Sunday after winds picked up.

On the Net

National Fire Information Center: www.nifc.gov

Forest Service links: www.fs.fed.us/fire/links2.shtml

Montana fires shroud valley in smoke/More than 941,000 acres burning in 11 Western states

HAMILTON, Mont. - Hundreds of residents driven from their homesby smoke and flames were allowed to return for a few hours Sunday,but later wind-driven blazes erupted and forced additional emergencyevacuations, including a major fire camp.

"This is the most awesome fire I've ever experienced," JodyEberly, an information officer with 20 years' experience fightingwildfires. The blazes shrouded the Bitterroot Valley in southwesternMontana with smoke.

Elsewhere, crews made progress against dozens of wildfires in thenorthern Rockies.

The blaze near Hamilton crossed a highway and was threateningnumerous buildings in the area, authorities said.

Residents of the area where a voluntary evacuation was requestedearlier were being rousted by Ravalli County sheriff's deputies andtold to leave immediately.

Hundreds of firefighters camped at Sula, at the base of LostTrail Pass into Idaho, were shifted to a safer location as the firesadvanced north and east, officials said.

Forecasts Sunday offered little hope of relief from the hot, dryweather that has helped create what officials are calling the worstfire season in the West in 50 years.

The Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, listed 64 majorfires burning Sunday on 941,700 acres in Arizona, California,Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah,Washington and Wyoming.

Fires have blackened 62,000 acres in the Bitterroot Valley, wheremore than 1,200 firefighters are at work.

About 300 residents evacuated Wednesday as the Blodgett Creekfire neared their homes were allowed to check their property duringthe day Sunday. At the same time, another 300 people in the Pinesdalearea, about 10 miles north of Hamilton, were told they might have toleave. About 30 percent of the Blodgett blaze was contained by firelines, but there was no containment of a 42,000-acre fire at thesouth end of the Bitterroot Valley.

Sections of U.S. Highway 93 through the Bitterroot Valley werereopened Sunday, but the smoke was so thick that officials sent outpilot cars to guide motorists.

Firefighters in Nevada reported they were near containment onseveral large blazes, but one grass and brush fire near Fernley,about 30 miles east of Reno, exploded from 900 acres to more than5,000 Sunday after winds picked up.

On the Net

National Fire Information Center: www.nifc.gov

Forest Service links: www.fs.fed.us/fire/links2.shtml