Fire starts near Troy

The Daily Inter Lake

A forest fire with potential for significant growth has emerged in the West Cabinet Mountains south of Troy.

The Little Spar Lake fire was spotted Wednesday in rugged terrain near its namesake lake, located about 20 miles south of Troy on the Kootenai National Forest.

An aerial patrol sized the lightning-caused fire at about 60 acres before noon Friday, said Willie Sykes, a public affairs officer for the Kootenai forest.

An initial attack response involved more than 40 firefighters, including smokejumpers, a heavy air tanker flying out of Missoula, two single engine air tankers out of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and two helicopters.

Because of the fire's remote location, with no roaded access, and dry conditions on the forest, "it has potential" for growth, Sykes said.

A Type II management team has been dispatched to assume management of the fire, along with more firefighting resources.

"There is no word of containment yet," Sykes said late in the afternoon Thursday.