NINEMILE, Mont., September 9, 2024— Firefighters from the Ninemile Ranger District on the Lolo National Forest and the Frenchtown Rural Fire Department responded to three fires in the same area over the weekend. The fires were all located about seven miles northwest of Ninemile and a half mile north of Ninemile Road on National Forest lands.

The Kennedy Fire was reported early Monday morning. The fire is estimated to be 16 acres in size. Firefighters have set up a bulldozer line around the perimeter and are continuing to improve containment.

The fire on Ninemile Road was reported Sunday morning and has been contained to 1.32 acres. Firefighters were able to get a bulldozer line around the perimeter and lay down hoses to aid in the cleanup.

The Kreis fire was reported Saturday night and is currently estimated at 28.3 acres with a bulldozer line around it. A helicopter was used for two fuel cycles to help stop forward spread. The initial attack took place Saturday night with assistance from the Frenchtown Rural Fire Department. Smoke from this fire will be visible for the next few days.

Anyone with information about the fires or suspicious activity in the area is encouraged to contact Forest Service Law Enforcement at 406-329-4814.

Additional updates and information about these fires will be posted on the forest’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/lolonationalforest/.

For more information about the Lolo National Forest, visit the website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/lolo or follow updates on Facebook and X.

About the Forest Service: The mission of the USDA Forest Service is to maintain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The agency manages the 193 million acres of National Forest System lands, provides management assistance to non-federal forest owners, and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world.