Gov. Bullock declares state of fire emergency

As fires around the state continue to grow, Montana Gov. Steve Bullock has declared a state of fire emergency, allowing him to mobilize state resources and the Montana National Guard to help fight the fires.

A number of fires are currently burning throughout Western Montana, but the biggest — the Thompson Fire in Glacier National Park — was fairly static over the weekend.

Greg DeNitto, fire spokesman, said weather had been in the favor of firefighting efforts but was poised to change.

“The fire was doing some creeping and smoldering today but moisture had kept it going slowly,” he said. “Weather wise, we are going to see it warming up a little bit. We have a slight chance of precip, but a warming/drying trend over the next few days could see ground fuels burn again. It’s likely that’ll cause some smoke that you can see from surrounding communities.”

The Thompson Fire, still estimated at 13,680 acres, is burning in the Nyack Creek/Thompson Creek drainage located about 15 miles east of the West Glacier entrance into Glacier National Park. It is burning in steep, rugged terrain which has made efforts to fight it difficult.

“We finally got some crews in on the fire,” DeNitto said. “We’ve got 115 personnel on it. One crew went up to Upper Nyack Cabin and buttoned that up. Other crews are lower in the drainage in avalanche chutes looking for sources of heat and establishing pumps and hose lays.”

A crew was flown in to establish a spike camp from which they can work. A planned infrared flight to more accurately establish acreage was canceled Saturday night, but a makeup flight was planned Sunday.

DeNitto said the fire has remained on the west side of the Continental Divide, which is a continued concern for agencies in Glacier County.

Crews plan to continue to suppress the fire in the drainage while they hope for rain and that the Montana National Guard won’t be necessary.

Two other large fires are still burning in Glacier National Park.

The Reynolds Creek Fire, which shut down Going-to-the-Sun Road in late July, remains static at 4,311 acres with 133 fire fighting personnel. Mop-up work continues as the fire expands to green islands in the burned area. Crews continue to protect structures at the Rising Sun developed area.

A 25-acre fire on the west side of Waterton Lake has shut down several campgrounds and trails near the Goat Haunt area. A Canadian Type-2 team has responded.

Reporter Ryan Murray can be reached at 758-4436 or rmurray@dailyinterlake.com.