The Roaring Lion Fire Stays Contained, But Smoke Is Still Creeping Into Missoula

The Roaring Lion fire did not expand at all over the weekend even though temperatures were hotter and winds were stronger. Fire Information Officer Lisa Keibler explains.

"Weather turned a little warmer and a little dryer and that drys the fuels out causing more fire activity," said Keibler. "You start seeing smokes that were not there before. This fire has a lot of green fuel islands within it. With the hotter dryer weather those fuels start burning more. You get some more smokes in the air and things start getting a little more active."

The fire did not increase in size because winds are pushing it back in on itself. Many assume that the smoke creeping into the valley is from the Roaring Lion, but Keibler says that’s not the case.

"It is mostly coming from the Moose fires that they have over there, but Cedar and Elk Ridge also contribute to it but mostly it is from the Moose," Keibler said. "They said over the next couple of days it will hit mostly in the late afternoons, but it should clear out throughout the night. The evenings and early mornings will be clear."

The Roaring Lion fire is still at 70% containment and has reached a cost of over $10 million.