U.S. 2 closed due to fire activity
<p><strong>Allison Stahl</strong> brings a load of clothes to her car as firefighters walk past on their way to prepare a hose line in Essex on Thursday. The Essex area was evacuated due to the growing Sheep Fire. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
A stretch of U.S. 2 along the southern boundary of Glacier National Park was closed just before 5 p.m. Thursday due to a nearby wildfire.
Highway officials closed the highway between mile markers 176.5 and 185.
The closure follows an evacuation order issued earlier in the afternoon tor residents of the Essex area.
People who live in the area will not be allowed to re-enter the closed portion.
Both the road closure and evacuation are due to the growing threat from the 1,111-acre Sheep Fire burning south of Essex and west of U.S. 2.
The highway segment also had been closed last week for two days.