KALISPELL, Mont.— Fire officials with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes say a vehicle throwing sparks likely caused a fire that has burned 500 acres of grass and timber south of St. Ignatius.
Fire information officer Devlin Laframboise told the Daily Inter Lake that the fire was reported at about 4 p.m. Thursday just below a rest-area turnout. He said firefighters thought they had a handle on it at 18 acres, but the wind came up. A Christian boarding school was evacuated overnight, but residents were allowed to return Friday morning.
The fire is located east of U.S. Highway 93 and the National Bison Range.
