Red Eagle fire in Glacier grows
The Red Eagle fire burning near St. Mary remained active Tuesday, and has gained ground since its size was last measured.
The Red Eagle fire was estimated at more than 25,000 acres, or 39 square miles, Tuesday evening. That's up from 22,200 acres on Sunday. Containment increased to 20 percent.
An evacuation of St. Mary and Glacier National Park's Cut Bank campground remained in effect Tuesday. But fire bosses made arrangements for residents and visitors to be escorted back into St. Mary to retrieve belongings Tuesday afternoon.
Firefighters continued to cut handlines and dozer breaks on the northern fire perimeter closest to St. Mary, as structure protection in and around the town remains the priority. Meanwhile helicopters and an air tanker continued to work on the fire, which has been burning to the northeast, away from St. Mary and along the southeastern shore of St. Mary Lake.
A Type I administrative team that assumed management of the fire Tuesday announced the possibility for Glacier Park's Going-to-the-Sun Road and Montana 89 north of St. Mary to be reopened by this morning. Park officials and fire managers have been under pressure from merchants and residents to reopen those roads as soon as possible.
Incident Commander Chuck Stanich said in a media report that the roads would not be reopened until they are safe.
Fire activity appeared to be calmer than it was over the weekend and crews were making progress in securing firelines to protect St. Mary, said Kimberly Nelson, fire information officer.
"Thing are looking good," she said. "Things are moving along to the point we hoped to be at this point."
Most of the burning activity Tuesday was within the fire's perimeter.
About 57 percent of the fire, or roughly 14,500 acres, was burning on Blackfeet tribal trust lands. Officials were looking into whether the fire had affected any historical or spiritual sites.
About 42 percent, or 10,500 acres, was burning in Glacier; less than 1 percent, about 50 acres, was on private land on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation.
Park Superintendent Mick Holm said Tuesday that effective immediately, campfires and smoking would be banned in Glacier's backcountry until further notice. Such fires also were banned at the Quartz Creek and Cut Bank campgrounds.
South of Livingston, the Big Creek fire, which destroyed three houses and at least three other buildings Sunday, was estimated at about 12,000 acres on Tuesday and was 10 percent contained.
Tom Brockett is among those who lost their homes Sunday. He barely escaped the fire, getting caught off guard when strong winds pushed the flames toward his house.
"I have insurance," Brockett said. "You can replace things in the house, but you can't replace things that have sentimental value."
Authorities warned residents of about 50 homes in the area to be prepared to evacuate if necessary, said information officer Marilyn Krause.
Fourteen people voluntarily left the area, and six were airlifted to safety after being trapped by the fire over the weekend.
The fire, burning in sage, grass and timber, was roughly 4 to 5 miles west-southwest of Emigrant and 2 to 3 miles from U.S. Highway 89.
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On the Net:
National Interagency Fire Center: www.nifc.gov