A weather system heading into the area from the west coast will hit western Montana Thursday afternoon, September 5, with the full thunderstorm package.
The National Weather Service has called for a flash flood watch in the area of the Lolo Creek Complex fires due to rain and thunderstorms moving into Western Montana.
Numerous spectacular lightning strikes in the South Hills area of Missoula were reported on Thursday evening, as a strong storm cell swept through the area, bringing with it strong, gusty winds and soaking rains in some locations.
The basketball court and baseball fields at the Lolo schools were filled with firefighters and firefighting tools , August 29. Lolo Middle School Principal Shawna Kientz said it was meaningful to see the children visiting with the firefighters that had helped save their school from the Lolo Creek Complex.
UPDATE - Thursday, August 29, 7 a.m.
Peter Christian spoke with Fire Information Officer Dave Schmitt on the Montana Morning radio show. Schmitt said the fire is now 70 percent contained.
Firefighters are keeping a wary on on the sky as a red flag warning has been issued by the National Weather Service for the area near where the Lolo Creek Complex has already burned over 9,000 acres since Sunday.
The Lolo Creek Complex has already claimed five homes and several outbuildings up Highway 12, and over 1,200 homes were served earlier this week with pre-evacuation notices. Homeowners are concerned as to whether or not their insurance will cover damage caused by a wildfire.
Smoke from the Lolo Creek Complex Fire has been drifting into the Missoula Valley since the two separate fires, the Schoolhouse and West Fork II, started over the weekend.
The Lolo Complex Fire was originally two low-priority fires that did not threaten structures. However, in the past 40 hours, hot weather and winds have fanned the fires into an official state of emergency. Now, the West Fork II fire and the original School House Fire are considered one giant threat as they burn on both sides of Highway 12.