On August 18, 2023, a wildfire now known as the River Road East Fire (named for its ignition location near where the road of that name crosses the tracks) ignited near the railroad tracks close to the Clark Fork River. This blaze didn't remain contained, quickly threatening not just Paradise but also the encompassing Sanders County.
By September 4, this fierce inferno, positioned approximately six miles southeast of Plains, had consumed a shocking 17,310 acres. The Montana Red Cross promptly established a refuge shelter in Plains, and Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 1 took charge of battling the flames.
RAPID PROGRESSION
The fire's acceleration was swift. Even in its initial stages, it covered a vast 13,414 acres, remaining wholly uncontained. Officials said at a fire information meeting that the blaze scorched 12,000 acres in less than 12 hours. However, by the early days of September, containment efforts brought this number up to 17,310 acres burned and 54% contained.
