With the wet,cold spring and early summer, everyone here kind of forgot about fire season. What was happening was all the grasses and stuff on the mountains was growing 3 times taller and thicker than usual. Then July hit and 90 degree plus temps and less than 1/4 inch of rain and the recipe was set for some hot times in the old town.

Late yesterday afternoon I'm watching reruns of Pawn Stars and look out the window towards Missoula.

"Hey Donna, looks like there's a fire somewhere in Hellgate Canyon. Plum of smoke coming up from there."

"That looks more like East Missoula to me. See, it's back of the transmitter towers on Mt. Sentinel."

She's right of course. As we're watching, in the space of 30 minutes, that whole area becomes a huge smoke bomb, billowing up huge clouds into the sky.

"Man, something must have really gone up. What's out there that could cause that much smoke?"

"Trees, you dumb-ass. I just talked to Linda (who lives near there) and she said the whole West Riverside Mountain is on fire. It's already crested Sheep Ridge and is threatening Marshall Ski Area."

So we have our entertainment set for the evening. Forest Fire watching is a real spectator sport around here, unless it's in your backyard. Then you become an active participant in a somewhat dangerous game.

About 10 pm we decide to drive in to get a close-up look at the fire. Just what the emergency personnel need is more gawkers. We get in and actually drive right up on old highway 200 to within 400 yards of the base of the fire. Unbelievable sight. For one mile along this mountain and all the way to the top is nothing but fire. And, the winds out of Hellgate Canyon are blowing at 30-40 mph, which doesn't help matters at all.

The police have put up road signs along the highway...."No Stopping/No Parking." Ha, the side of the road is like a WalMart lot on the day after Thanksgiving. People have lawn chairs out, and one guy even has a Pony of beer on the back tailgate of his truck. Hey, when we go to an event, we do it in style.

Anyway, it's up to 2000+ acres and headed northeast into the Blackfoot drainage. Have to go back tonight and watch and see if the guy with the beer is still around.

Priorities!!!

My avatar is from a fire about one half mile from our home two summers ago. Spectacular sight at night.

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Those fires and be so deadly. I hope no one is injured in the conflagration.

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The only one likely to get injured would be the guy with the beer last night if he forgets tonight, or me. Things just seem to happen to me. LOL

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My father was in Whitefish that summer you had the fire from your avatar. They got a lot of smoke from it.

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We're still trying to dry out from all the water you sent us Bob. End of August and still looks like Ireland. Been good for the Bee business though, so thanks buddy. Send be your address, and I'll mail you a sample.

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MT Bob
% wpr
Oregon, IL 61061
🙏

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I love it when people that ride my ass, beg. Just send PM me your particulars.

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I'z just messin.

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What are you just 'messin'? Do you need to change your underwear?

I just got off the phone with a retired teaching buddy of mine who does the radio play by play for the Lady Griz basketball team.

"Hey Tom, is Teddy the Torch back in town? I thought he was still in prison for the last match he lit."

"You got it Bob. He got out two months ago for good behavior." (which means he didn't burn the prison down or the city of Deer Lodge)

"I wonder if they suspect him, or if the fire was an old lightning strike that flared up?"

"The fire started right at the end of Tremper Drive. Guess who's backyard butts up against the mountain right there?"

"You're shittin' me! That's too much of a coincidence. Jeez, you don't think he REALLY started it do you?"

"Let's just say that the sheriff's people and the Forest Service are calling him a person of interest...........and they can't find him."

"They should try Butte. He loved to torch that city. And most of the time he got paid for it."

Now 'Teddy the Torch' was a former student of ours in middle school. Tom taught Social Studies and I had him for PE. Between the two of us he averaged F+ over 6-7-8 grade. Not a real motivated kid except when it came to fires. A+++ in this subject. By his sophomore year in high school, when he turned 21, he was suspected in three major fires in Missoula and two in Butte. He finally got caught a few years ago trying to set a missile silo on fire up near Great Falls. Got stuck in the razor wire on top of the fence. As I said, not the sharpest arrow in the quiver.

So it will be interesting to see what shakes out here. God, give that kid a match and he could have lit the world on fire.

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razor wire. Too bad they just didn't yank him out out of it.

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