HELENA, Mont. — Authorities in western Montana roused people from their beds early today to flee an approaching wildfire, as thunderstorms sparked dozens more in blazes across the West in Idaho and Nevada.

Cooler temperatures and calmer winds helped firefighters control wildfires that flared up Thursday across eastern Washington in hot, gusty winds.

But in Montana, a cold front brought lightning and sparked eight fires on forest service and private land.

Ravalli County authorities began knocking on doors at 3 a.m. today, warning residents about three miles west of Hamilton that a fire in the Bitterroot National Forest was threatening their homes.

The Downing Mountain fire was reported at 8 p.m. Thursday and grew to 300 acres by this morning.

About 70 homes in the Blodgett and Canyon Creek areas have been evacuated and fire officials said residents of another 100 homes were warned they might have to leave.

Meanwhile, Helena National Forest officials hope cooler weather and higher humidity Friday will help slow the 2,800-acre Davis Gulch fire burning on Stemple Pass northwest of Helena.

By The Associated Press