Wildfires On Blackfeet Res. Force Evacuations

Published January 5, 2012 7:54AM (EST)

BROWNING, Mont. (AP) — Officials say gusty winds are fueling major grass fires on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in northwestern Montana that are prompting evacuations.

Blackfeet tribal spokesman Wayne Smith says that one fire started southeast of Browning just after 5 p.m. and burned about eight miles east to the community of Blackfoot.

He did not know how many acres had burned so far but said U.S. Highway 2 from Cut Bank to Browning was closed.

No injuries have been reported.

The Great Falls Tribune reports that the fires forced the evacuations of about 20 homes in a small community known as the Boarding School. KSEN-AM in Shelby says several homes east of Browning were also evacuated.


By Salon Staff

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