Fire lines hold on Howe Ridge blaze

A wildfire burning in Glacier National Park remained near the Going-to-the-Sun Road, but the overall growth of the blaze was described as moderate by fire officials on Thursday.

According to information from the Southwest Area Type 1 Incident Management Team 2, the Howe Ridge Fire displayed moderate fire activity Wednesday, but overall fire growth was minimal and only occurred in isolated areas. It was estimated at 12,435 acres.

The fire was estimated to be between 150 to 300 feet from the Going-to-the-Sun Road at its closest point and hadn’t crossed containment lines or Upper McDonald Creek.

Structure protection remained in place along North Lake McDonald Road and hoses, pumps and sprinklers were in place along Sun Road and the facilities in the Avalanche Creek area. The Northern Rockies Type 1 Incident Management Team 1 will take command of the fires at 6 a.m. Friday

Going-to-the-Sun Road remained closed between the foot of Lake McDonald and Logan Pass. North McDonald and Fish Creek Roads are closed. The Inside North Fork Road is closed from Fish Creek to Logging Creek.

Sun Road is open between St. Mary and Logan Pass.

The Boundary Fire in northeast Glacier Park showed some interior burning and multiple areas of smoldering fire and creeping in Boundary Creek. It was estimated at 2,126 acres.

On the Flathead National Forest, the Paola Ridge Fire grew slightly and there was helicopter support to work on the radio repeater as well as reconnaissance flights to monitor the fire.

Reporter Scott Shindledecker can be reached at (406) 758-4441 or sshindledecker@dailyinterlake.com.