Glacier Rim Fire 'intense' at core

The Glacier Rim fire grew by five acres on Tuesday, but officials say the location of the fire that started Saturday has helped limit its growth.

“Because it burned previously, it’s a very different fire,” public information Sonja Hartmann said.

The fire is burning through the area burned by the 2003 Robert Fire, a 57,000-acre blaze that burned for two months through forest north of Columbia Falls.  

Hartmann said the conditions left by the Robert Fire are such that the current fire doesn’t spread as quickly.

The Glacier Rim Fire was last measured at 85 acres. Crews totaling 115 firefighters are on hand.

“It only gained five acres from yesterday,” Hartmann said Tuesday.

Still, the conditions of an unusually dry and hot June are not helping. The Two Bear Air helicopter made an infrared search over the area and found the interior of the fire to be intensely hot.

Those conditions, as well as difficult access, have made it tough for firefighters to attack the fire inside the lines. Two helicopters have worked to drop water from above.

On Tuesday, firefighters worked to build a line to the north, which features steep terrain and more difficult access. Hartmann said that they want to keep the fire from spilling into the Canyon Creek area.

Officials reported 30 percent containment on Tuesday.  

Residents of two homes voluntarily evacuated from their houses just south of the fire, but there hasn’t been an order to evacuate. The southern end of the fire has been well-contained, according to officials.

Embers have occasionally jumped eastward across the North Fork of the Flathead River into Glacier National Park, but crews quickly put out the spot fires in the park. On Tuesday, personnel were still checking the area for smoldering spots.

Reporter Matt Hudson may be reached at 758-4459 or by email at mhudson@dailyinterlake.com.