West Riverside fire

Firefighting resources will work to keep the fire north of the Blackfoot River and west of the Johnson Creek drainage. Helicopters will continue to aid the firefighting effort with water drops to cool hot spots. Air tankers that drop retardant to slow the fire spread are available if necessary...

5-Valley Crimestoppers has released a poster asking for any information as to who may be responsible for  possible arson in the West  Riverside Fire. I spoke with Missoula County Sheriff's Detective and Public Information Officer Jason Johnson about the poster. That interview is attached.

Fire Information Officer Terena Mullan has the update filed early this morning.

Firefighters say the threat to nearby homes has been reduced from a 2,000 acre wildfire east of Missoula. Crews were putting out hot spots and patrolling the area near the 40 threatened homes in West Riverside, near the confluence of the Blackfoot and Clark Fork rivers...

I spoke with Paula Short, Fire Information officer assigned to the West Riverside Fire from the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation who provided us with an update on the fire that broke out Monday evening. That interview is attached.

The Montana Red Cross put a shelter on standby Monday night for residents of West Riverside and Cambridge Road that may be affected or eventually displaced by fire due to mandatory evacuations. The East Missoula Community Center at 314 Montana Avenue is ready to open with staff on a moment’s notice...