Erratic winds impact Howe Ridge Fire

A weather system brought cooler temperatures, scattered precipitation and erratic winds to the Howe Ridge Fire on Monday as the blaze in Glacier National Park continued to creep south and west along the shore of Lake McDonald toward Apgar.

Smoky conditions grounded aircraft responsible for collecting data on increased acreage, according to information officer Chris Wyatt. Size estimates of the lightning-caused fire remained at 7,835 acres, making it the largest in the state.

“That fire continues to be socked in every day with smoke, and unable to really get a head of steam on it to move in any direction,” Rocky Gilbert, operations chief for John Pierson’s Southwest Team 2, said in a fire update Monday afternoon. “However, at night it does get clear air and has been getting wind and continues to move in a westerly direction.”

The cold front slightly increased humidity but also spurred a wind shift that increased fire spread. East and northeast winds from 18 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph, were predicted along Lake McDonald on Monday.

Firefighters continued to secure the southwestern flank of the fire along the edge of the Inside North Fork Road with the use of heavy equipment.

Sprinkler systems were put in place to protect structures in the Fish Creek Campground area, while a hot shot crew worked to create containment lines.

On the northeastern flank, north of Lake McDonald, firefighters used pumps and hose lays to limit fire spread toward Going-to-the-Sun Road, while patrolling to protect structures and suppress any new fire activity.

The Howe Ridge Fire made its initial run Aug. 12, growing from a few acres to more than 1,500 overnight. Dozens of historic cabins, including most of Kelly’s Camp, were destroyed in the blaze.

Campers, park employees and the Fish Creek Ranger Station were evacuated from the Fish Creek Campground on Sunday morning. Fish Creek Campground Road remains closed from the Camas Road junction, but Camas Road has been reopened. Trails off the Camas Road are closed.

An evacuation warning is in effect from the Quarter Circle Bridge Road north, including Apgar, the Grist Road and all areas accessed from Quarter Circle Bridge Road.

Evacuation orders remain in place for the North Lake McDonald Road, private residences and the Lake McDonald Ranger Station, the Lake McDonald Lodge, private residences along the Going-to-the-Sun Road, and Sprague Creek and Avalanche Campgrounds.

The Going-to-the-Sun Road remained closed from Apgar to Logan Pass. The road is open on the east side of the park.

For a recorded Howe Ridge Fire update, call (406) 888-7077.

Fire crews also responded to a new fire start at the Flattop Campground area in Glacier Park on Monday. The lightning-caused fire was 0.1 acre and a helitack team was deployed to investigate.

A small wildfire on the back side of Big Mountain was contained to 3 acres. The Big Creek Fire was reported on Forest Service land northwest of the Big Mountain summit, about 1.5 miles from the base of Chair 7 at Whitefish Mountain Resort. The fire was caused by lightning, according to the Kalispell Interagency Dispatch Center.

“A great save by our initial attack fire personnel,” Flathead Forest spokesperson Janette Turk said.

The Paola Ridge Fire was listed at 364 acres Monday. Fire activity was reported on the southeast flank due to gusty, high winds. An evacuation warning for a small number of residents near Essex remained in place.

Little movement has occurred at the Coal Ridge Fire over the last three days. The fire 10 miles from Polebridge is burning toward Hay Creek and south to Coal Ridge to Moran Creek. The fire is being managed with modified confine and contain tactics.

To the north, the Whale Butte Fire remained uncontained at 251 acres.

On the Kootenai Forest, dense smoke and higher humidity helped calm fire behavior on the Davis Fire northwest of Yaak. The fire was estimated at 6,032 acres. An area closure remains in effect around the Davis Fire, including a portion of Forest Road 338.

Air quality on Monday in Western Montana ranged from unhealthy for sensitive groups to unhealthy from Libby down to Bozeman, but relief is on the horizon for some parts of the state.

According to the Department of Environmental Quality, a change in wind direction is expected to push smoke out of Montana for the first part of this week.

“Unfortunately, fire activity, and consequently smoke impacts ranging from unhealthy for sensitive groups to unhealthy, will likely continue in Northwest Montana through this period,” noted Kristen Martin, air quality meteorologist.

Keep track of hourly concentrations at TodaysAir.mt.gov.

Reporter Mary Cloud Taylor can be reached at 758-4459 or mtaylor@dailyinterlake.com.