Glacier issues evacuation warning for North Fork area

North Fork residents and visitors remained on high alert Monday as activity on the Hay Creek Fire was expected to pick up throughout the day.

About 100 firefighters and one helicopter were assigned to the 1,158-acre blaze on the Flathead Forest about 4 miles west of Polebridge.

Evacuation warnings remain in place for all residences east and west of the North Fork Road from Home Ranch Bottoms up to and including Moose Creek Road, and the community of Polebridge. 

Glacier National Park also issued an evacuation warning for the North Fork area of the park north of Logging Creek. Bowman and Kintla Lake campgrounds in Glacier Park remain open for day-use and frontcountry camping, but backcountry permits are being restricted in that area. Backpackers currently in the backcountry will be allowed to exit through the North Fork as long as conditions allow, the park stated in a Monday fire update.

On Monday, heavy equipment was working to widen existing roads to connect past forest treatments and build contingency lines on the fire, while firefighters worked to hold Hay Creek Road.

On the other side of the Whitefish Range, mop up work was underway for the Hemlock Fire south of Werner Peak and north of Big Mountain. An aggressive initial attack on Friday aided by good weather kept the 16-acre blaze in check over the weekend. There are no closures related to the fire.

THE SANDERS County Sheriff's Office on Sunday ordered evacuations for all residences on the east side of Blue Slide Road in Graves North and Graves South areas due to the growing Thorne Creek Fire northeast of Thompson Falls.

The fire was listed Monday morning at 5,627 acres with no containment.

According to information from West Lolo Complex officials, the areas under the evacuation order are described as “from Cougar Creek south to the intersection of Blue Slide Road and River View Lane.”

County deputies were going to go door-to-door to inform residents in these areas of the evacuation order.

Pre-evacuation warnings were issued Monday for the Harlow and Ashley areas.

Montana Red Cross opened an evacuation center for residents displaced by the fire. The Red Cross evacuation center is located at the Thompson Falls Community Center, 410 Golf St.

Residents who check in there will have access to services including a safe place to stay, meals and other community resources. All Red Cross services are free.

Families also can request Red Cross services by calling 800-272-6668.

People were also offering assistance for those who may displaced, including those with livestock, on the Facebook page Sanders County 411.

In terms of firefighting operations, Operations Section Chief Andy James said during a Saturday briefing, that aerial crews did ignition work Friday on the north end of Winniemuck Creek to keep the fire from making big runs north and throwing out spot fires.

“Also, the fire did grow several hundred acres Friday, but some of it burned back on itself, which is good news,” James said.

ON THE Kootenai National Forest, the Burnt Peak Fire grew another 300 acres on Sunday due to gusty winds. The 2,715-acre fire made an uphill run to the top of the peak, producing an impressive smoke column. About 237 firefighters are working to contain the blaze southwest of Troy along the Montana and Idaho state line.

Firefighters completed successful burnout operations on the nearby South Yaak Fire just northwest of Troy. Fire managers report that the 1,523-acre fire is pushing into steeper terrain, where they will work to improve existing roads to contain the blaze.