Evacuations in place at Finley Point; structures lost and highway closed
POLSON (KPAX) — Authorities report the wildfire that’s burning in the Finley Point area has burned 1,150 acres and evacuation orders remain in place.
An evacuation order is in effect from mile marker 6 to 13 on Highway 35 and for all of Finley Point.
Lake County Sheriff Don Bell is asking people to stay out of Skidoo Bay on Flathead Lake as firefighters are using water from the bay to fight the fire.
Multiple structures were lost late Saturday night and into the early morning hours, a social media post from the CSKT Division of Fire states.
The Red Cross has set up a shelter for evacuees at the Linderman Gymnasium in Polson.
Montana Highway 35 is closed from the intersection with US Highway 93 in Polson to mile marker 15 on the north end.
Aviation resources are continuing to drop retardant and water on this fire. A Type 2 Incident Management Team has been assigned to this fire and will be in-briefed in the next day or two.
The cause of the blaze is under investigation.