Fire closes Avalanche Lake Trail

A fire of more than 25 acres burst to life in Avalanche Basin amid dry, windy conditions Saturday afternoon in Glacier National Park.

According to Brad Harris, a fire management duty officer with the park, the first smoke report came in at around 2:30 p.m. about half a mile from Avalanche Lake.

Rangers quickly evacuated people from both the lake area and the popular Avalanche Lake Trail and closed both areas. The trail will remain closed as needed.

“We believe that it’s a lightning holdover from about 10 days ago, because we did have a smoke report, I believe on Wednesday, and were unable to locate it,” Harris said Saturday. “And finally, with the windy and dry conditions today, it went to town.”

Wind gusts at nearby Logan Pass ranged from 42 to 68 miles per hour Saturday afternoon.

Smoke from the fire was visible from Going-to-the-Sun Road, Apgar and Lake McDonald.

Glacier Park spokeswoman Denise Germann said two helicopters — one from Flathead National Forest and one from the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation — dropped water on the fire on Saturday.

Harris said park officials hope to staff the fire early Sunday morning.

“We are trying to order up resources and begin tomorrow,” he said. “We’ve got a couple of helicopters requested and we’re trying to round up our fire personnel throughout the park.”