Canadians fighting Waterton Lake Fire

At the northern edge of Glacier National Park, a wildfire that started Friday afternoon near Goat Haunt is approximately 25 acres.

Parks Canada is working with the National Park Service to manage the Waterton Lake Fire. Two crews and two helicopters are fighting the fire.

Closures include the Pass Creek Day Use Area, Lakeshore Trail from the townsite to Boundary Bay, Bertha Lake trail, Alderson Lake trail (from the townsite trailhead), Carthew-Alderson trail (from Summit Lake via Carthew Lakes to Alderson Lake), Boundary Creek trail, and Summit Lake trail.

The Thompson Fire in Glacier grew to 13,680 acres. The cause of the fire is unknown.

The Thompson Fire is located in a remote south-central backcountry area of Glacier National Park. The majority of the park is unaffected by this wildfire and is available for recreational use.

The fire is burning in the Thompson Creek and Nyack Creek drainages west of Medicine Grizzly Peak.

High winds prevented crews being flown in by helicopter to begin work on the ground in the Nyack drainage area until Saturday night.

“The winds were just too significant to get helicopters in until mid-afternoon,” fire team spokesman Greg Dinetto said.

Seasonal conditions are expected Sunday. With the cooler weather and recent wetting rains, the fire is expected to smolder within its perimeter today.

“We’re going back in to warmer and drying weather,” Dinetto said. “We’re probably going to see increased fire activity.”

 Limited backcountry closures are in place. For more specific visitor information visit www.nps.gov/glac/index.htm.

Glacier National Park is under Stage I Fire Restrictions. Campfires are not allowed in the backcountry. Campfires are still allowed in developed campgrounds that have park-provided concrete or metal fire rings.