Structures lost in Glacier Park fire

An unknown number of structures on the north end of Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park were destroyed in a wildfire Sunday night, park officials said Monday morning. The fire was estimated to be between 1,500-2,500 acres Monday afternoon.

Evacuation orders issued Sunday night in Glacier remained in place Monday as the Howe Ridge Fire continued to burn on the northwest flank of Lake McDonald.

Going-to-the-Sun Road was closed to traffic from the foot of Lake McDonald at Apgar to Logan Pass on the west side of the park. The evacuation order is in place for all areas along the Sun Road between Apgar and Logan pass, including Lake McDonald Lodge, Avalanche Creek Campground and Sprague Campground. A fire information hotline is available at (406) 888-7077.

The lightning-caused fire was estimated at 20 acres Sunday evening before blowing up overnight.

Helicopters were dipping from Lake McDonald and dropping water on the fire Monday morning.

According to the park, the evacuations were ordered when the fire column shifted and began spotting and moving over the ridge. A fire spot was found as far away as the opposite side of Stanton Mountain.

“Fire behavior Sunday night was extreme,” the park stated in a media update. “Tree torching, crown runs, wind driven fire, and fire spots up to ½ mile away occurred for multiple hours.”

Fire managers indicated that “a number of structures” on the north end of Lake McDonald were lost Sunday, but details are not available about the exact number or type of structures. A Flathead County structural fire task force provided a significant response.

All visitor services at Lake McDonald Lodge were closed, but the Sun Road remained open on the park’s east side Monday.

A dry lightning storm Saturday night sparked the Howe Ridge Fire and two others in the park.

The Howe Ridge Fire is moving through terrain that burned in the 2003 Robert Fire.

Local fire resources from other agencies have been arriving over the last 24 hours in a limited capacity following the fire start. Canadian “super scoopers” were assigned to the Howe Ridge Fire on Sunday for a four hour cycle. Those efforts, however, were not effective in controlling fire growth, the park stated. The planes were not able to fly very close to the fire to drop water due to high winds. The super scoopers are most effective when they can fly low and drop water directly on a fire.

Ground firefighters on Monday were evaluating what areas of the fire are possible to contain with resources on hand. They planned to establish trigger points that would prompt additional evacuations or warnings for other areas in the park.

Effective at midnight Monday, the park will enter Stage II Fire Restrictions. No campfires will be permitted in the frontcountry or backcountry. Smoking is also prohibited except within an enclosed building, vehicle, developed recreation area, or barren area three feet in diameter. Propane stoves that have an on/off switch are permitted.

The Heavens Sake Fire below Heavens Peak was also visible from the Sun Road on the west side of the park. It was estimated at only 0.1 acre on Sunday.

Ten smoke jumpers and a helicopter responded to another fire near Numa Ridge in the North Fork area of the park. That fire was burning in heavy timber above Bowman Lake and was estimated at 1.5 acres.

This story will be updated as information becomes available.