Lolo Hot Springs Fire Entrapment 1917

A lightning-caused fire on the Lolo National Forest in Montana was nearly contained when strong winds caused it to escape its lines and advance in multiple places, triggering at least two large firefighter entrapments. U.S. Forest Service Ranger A.N. Thayer's crew of 70 firefighters was forced to take refuge in a creek as the fire passed over them. Several of these firefighters received burn injuries and two were injured by falling trees. This entrapment in the creek bed incident lasted approximately two hours. During this time, the firefighters regularly threw mud and water around themselves to keep the flames at bay. One of the firefighters, Victor Vianen, received a broken arm from a falling tree limb. Vianen's injuries were serious enough to receive a government pension from the U.S. Forest Service.

Elsewhere on this fire, a large camp of 300 firefighters was burned over, forcing the men to escape. Gus Stalberg, who received serious burn injuries, was taken to Missoula for treatment. Stalberg's rescuers informed the media that one man in the Lolo Hot Springs area was known to have died in this entrapment. However, if this is accurate, the name of the deceased and the circumstances of their death are not available. 

A River Runs Through It author Norman Maclean's short story "The Black Ghost" likely refers to his entrapment and near miss on this fire, in the vicinity of Fish Creek. 

Entrapment, Burn Injury