Evacuations ordered in Glacier as fire grows
Lake McDonald Lodge and Avalanche Creek Campground in Glacier National Park were evacuated and a portion of Going-to-the-Sun Road was closed to traffic Sunday evening as a lightning-caused fire quickly expanded.
The Howe Ridge Fire northwest of Lake McDonald expanded through spotting following evening winds Sunday, prompting the evacuation and road closure from Lake McDonald Lodge to Logan Pass on the west side of the park.
The evacuation order impacts about 50 individuals who own private homes, several National Park Service employees residing at the Lake McDonald Ranger Station, campers at the 87-site Avalanche Creek Campground and guests at the lodge.
According to the park, the threatened structures are located at the north end of Lake McDonald. A structure protection team was requested. The south end of Lake McDonald including the Grist Road and Apgar Village were not under evacuation.
A dry lightning storm Saturday night sparked the Howe Ridge Fire and two others in the park.
The park was under a red flag warning until midnight Saturday, and that environment created favorable conditions for fire starts and fire growth, the park stated.
The Howe Ridge Fire burned actively throughout Saturday night and into Sunday, and was estimated at 20 acres Sunday evening. The fire is moving through terrain that burned in the 2003 Robert Fire.
CL-215 “super scooper” airplanes from Canada were scooping water out of Lake McDonald to fight the Howe Ridge Fire for about four hours on Sunday.
“However this was not effective in stopping fire growth,” park spokesperson Lauren Alley stated in a press release Sunday night.
The planes were later redirected to other fires outside of the park.
Firefighters attempted to hike to the fire, but were not able to engage due to safety concerns.
Hundreds of people were gathered on the lawn at Lake McDonald Lodge to watch the blaze and super scoopers. The DeSmet boat was still giving tours and was booked through the afternoon and evening.
The fire has the potential to threaten private homes and residences in the Kelly Camp area along the lake. It is primarily a ground fire, burning in downed, dead, timber and young “doghair” lodgepole pine and other trees that have grown back in the 15 years since the Robert Fire.
Also in the park, the Heavens Sake Fire below Heavens Peak was also visible from the Sun Road on the west side of the park. It was estimated at only 0.1 acre on Sunday and is burning in a portion of the forest that did not burn in the 2003 Trapper Fire.
Firefighters attempted to reach the fire located mid-slope on Heavens Peak by rappelling from a helicopter, but were turned back due to wind.
Ten smoke jumpers and a helicopter responded to another fire near Numa Ridge in the North Fork area of the park. That fire was burning in heavy timber above Bowman Lake and was estimated at 1.5 acres.
The following trails have been closed due to fire danger: Akakola Lake Trail, Camas Lake Trail, Numa Lookout Trail, Trout Lake Trail, and the Howe Lake and Ridge Trails. A fire information line with updated recorded information about these fires can be reached by calling 406-888-7077.
The lightning storm also ignited multiple new fires on the Flathead Forest and in Flathead County, according to fire information officer Ali Ulwelling with the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation.
The remote Coal Ridge Fire had burned about 10 to 15 acres east of Upper Whitefish Lake in the Whitefish Range.
The Paola Ridge Fire was estimated at 15 acres and was burning on the Flathead Forest near Pinnacle along U.S. 2.
The Bear Springs Fire near Little Bitterroot Lake was at 3 acres on Sunday.