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WESTERN MONTANA INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FIREFIGHTERS
HAVE ANXIOUS MOMENTS SEPTEMBER 18, 2001 8:00PM.
COLUMBIA FALLS, MT. Firefighters
on the Moose Fire near Kalispell MT have experienced two anxious moments
within the last 24 hours. Seven firefighters were taken to North Valley
Hospital for evaluation after complaining of headaches, nausea and
dizziness Monday morning. The
firefighters were trying to extinguish a portion of the fire, which had
burned into some coal tailings. The
tailings were leftover from an abandoned coal mine used in the 1930’s. Authorities speculate that the water being used by the
firefighters reacted with the burning coal to produce a sulfur-like gas.
Lynn Ogle, Hazardous Materials Specialist for the Flathead County
Office of Emergency Services, was contacted and responded to the scene. The seven were evaluated and released Monday
evening. The five
firefighters who were exposed the longest were kept in camp for further
observation on Tuesday and two of the five returned to the hospital for
further evaluation. Medical officials on the fire say that the firefighters are
doing well and should return to work on the lines soon. The area around the coal tailings will be closed to
all use until the danger of the gases is past.
Another danger is that the fire has burned underneath a thin
crust and is dangerous when stepped upon.
Fire Safety officials will monitor the area and determine when it
can be reopened. On Tuesday afternoon another close call occurred
when a burned out tree fell on a van used to transport firefighters.
Fortunately, only one person was in the parked vehicle and they
were not injured. Fire
officials warn the public that travel in the fire area is dangerous and
that visitors should use extreme caution and utilize only roads open for
public use. The lightning caused Moose Fire has consumed over 69,000 acres on the Flathead National Forest and Glacier National Park. Currently over 600 firefighters from around the country are fighting the fire. Incident Commander Bill Swope reports that the fire is 45% contained but warns that any major winds could cause the fire to once again increase in size.
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