The weather is the most important weapon in fighting fires. And according to the National Weather Service, firefighters in western Montana might have it on their side this week as temperatures cool and a high-pressure system stays over Seattle.

Its going to be a little cooler, near normal at 88 or 89 degrees, Jeff Kitsmiller, an NWS meteorologist said Sunday.

Kitsmiller said easterly winds are forecast on Wednesday, something that all firefighters would know about as it may help or hurt, depending on the fire. Earlier forecasts had called for near-record temperatures later this week.

Liberty fire: The column of smoke visible to the north of Missoula was coming from the South Fork Jocko Primitive Area where the Liberty fire tripled in size Sunday afternoon.

The fire had been listed at 600 acres Sunday morning, but is now more than 2,000 acres, according to Confederated Salish and Kootenai Division of Fire public information officer Devlin LaFrombois.

A briefing not a public meeting has been set for Monday at 10 a.m. at the Arlee Community Center.

"Around 1 o'clock (Sunday) the wind blew it over one of the roads we were using for control line," LaFrombois said. "It blew up and went up the other side of a draw."

All crews battling the blaze had to be pulled off the lines, he said.

The fire has moved beyond the Flathead Reservation onto Lolo National Forest land. Public Information Officer Rob McDonald said the state has been notified.

LaFrombois said a Type I team currently on stand-by in Missoula will join the effort on Monday.

"It had the potential all along (to grow), it was just a matter of time," LaFrombois said. "It's rough and steep country to put people on the ground."

The Missoula County Sheriff's office has notified170 residences in the Placid Lake area of an evacuation warning.

"This is for North & South Placid Lake Roads, Shining Shirt Road and Beaver Creek Road. This is the first step in which MCSO deputies attempt to make in-person contact with affected population," the Sheriff's office Facebook page reported. "Should there be an order, deputies will make every effort to recontact residents in the evacuation area."

Lolo Peak fire: A weather inversion will likely cause smoke to settle in Florence and Lolo from Sunday evening through Monday morning according to the Incident Information System. The smoke will be categorized as unhealthy, especially for the elderly, the very young, and those with breathing ailments.

Road closures are still in effect, and fire traffic has shifted to Elk Meadow Road.

Currently, the fire team is focusing on a ridge west of Lolo Creeks south fork, dropping fire retardant and doing other work in an attempt to slow its progress.

According to Leigh Golden, the fire is still in the backcountry three or four air miles from any structure.

Sunrise and Burdette fires: While visibility is hampering any air operations, the Sunrise and Burdette Fires are burning in the Tarkio area and fire fighters are fighting back.

Winds were expected to increase Sunday afternoon and cause the fires to spread to the southeast. The Incident Information System warns the public should be aware that fire activity is expected to increase with these winds as well as advising motorists not to stop along I-90 as smoke could be very heavy.

Evacuations are still in effect in the area, and the fires continued path through sub-alpine firs is causing embers to be blown nearly a half-mile in front of the fire, according to public information officer Phil Sneed, who advises everyone in western Montana to take extreme caution when dealing with any fire in the outdoors.

Sapphire Complex: The Sapphire Complex continues to burn. At over 10,000 acres, the fires are growing, but not in an unexpected fashion, according to public information officer Erin OConnor.

A new team has taken over the Complex as the 14-day cycle for the previous Team ran out. And other than some unburned fuel lighting up in the Goat Creek and Sliderock fires, crews are still fighting and cutting lines.

Rice Ridge fire: The Rice Ridge fire near Seeley Lake is up to nearly 100 firefighters as the fire begins to creep out of the retardant lines placed around it.

Crews are currently placing containment lines where possible, but the fire is currently not threatening any communities or homes. Fire crews are trying to keep the fire from moving to the south and west which is populated, and heavy equipment has been moved to the area to help with the effort.

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UPDATED: Liberty fire triples in size, Placid Lake area receives 'evacuation warning' - The Missoulian