Friday evening, crews from the Frenchtown Rural Fire Department were called out to two lightning caused fires.

Spokesman Mel Holtz said the first call came in just after 8:00 p.m.

“We responded to as wildland fire up South Side Road up in the Albert Creek area off of Kona Creek Road,” said Holtz. “DNRC responded as well as several of our engines and found a tree that had been struck by lightning and it had started that tree on fire and it was spreading to the grass, so we were able to put that out and quickly contain that.”

Holtz said crews remained on the scene for several hours to make sure the fire was completely out, but then another call came in to the fire station early on Saturday morning.

“We got a call from the Evaro Hill area but we didn’t find that fire, but we did find another tree that had been struck by lightning that had put itself out,” he said. “So, we did have some lightning that moved through the area Friday night and we’re anticipating that there could be some additional starts from that lightning storm.”

Holtz said the fire station also received a disturbing call from the Alberton area.

“While we were on the Evaro incident, we also received a call that someone was burning on their property out by Alberton,” he said. “We just want to remind the public that we’re in Stage II Fire restrictions and we have extreme fire danger for western Montana, and no burning is allowed on private or public land.”

Holtz reminds the public that if they see a fire, to report it immediately to 9-1-1 so that crews can attack the fire quickly.

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