A string of fires forced the closure of a 90-mile (145-kilometer) stretch of highway, and authorities cited a quick response by emergency crews for protecting nearby towns. About a dozen fires broke out Thursday along a four-lane interstate highway in western Montana, closing the road from Missoula to the Idaho line, officials said. The road remained closed early Friday after at least 1,000 acres (400 hectares) along the highway burned _ at times on both sides of the road, AP reported. Officials said they were investigating arson or possibly a vehicle dragging something that emitted sparks. Thursday evening, a steady stream of helicopters swooped down on the Clark Fork River, filling 500-gallon (1,900-liter) buckets and flying off to hot spots. Planes also had dropped 18 loads of retardant, authorities said. Some residents were evacuated near Alberton.
