Fire resized at 45 acres
<p><span class="userContent">Traffic goes down Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park as a wildfire burns on the flank of Mount Brown Sunday night. The fire was originally reported Saturday at 25 acres, but was resized Monday at 45 acres.</p><p></span></p>
The Avalanche Wildland Fire in Glacier National Park is 20 acres larger than earlier estimates, according to a news release from park officials.
The fire burning on Mount Brown is approximately 45 acres, up from the 25 acres initially reported.
“This size estimate is due to more accurate mapping of the fire, not fire growth,” the news release said.
The wildland fire is located on Mount Brown, near Avalanche Lake on the west side of Glacier National Park. The popular Avalanche Lake Trail will remain closed until further notice.
Aerial water drops have been effective in suppressing the fire, the news release said.
About 25 firefighters are on site constructing fireline. Firefighters from Glacier National Park and Flathead and Kootenai national forests, in addition to eight smokejumpers, are working in partnership to suppress the fire. Firefighters are working in rugged terrain, with firefighter safety as a priority.
Smoke was first reported at about 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Rangers located the fire and quickly evacuated people from the Avalanche Lake Trail.
The fire’s cause is believed to be lightning.
Smoke is visible throughout various locations in the park and in some locations in the Flathead Valley.