News Release

Howe Ridge and Boundary Fires Update Monday, September 24, 2018

Date: September 24, 2018
Contact: Fire Information, 406-578-8256

West Glacier, MT. - Weather: Yesterday, the fires received precipitation, but the widely scattered storms left varied amounts of rain throughout Glacier National Park. Some open areas received a 1/10 inch of rain, while in forested areas; the rain did not penetrate the forest canopy. Today will be mostly cloudy with a chance of rain and snow showers in the afternoon. Temperatures will be in the mid-50’s with chances of wetting rain at 30%. Winds will be southwest at 5-12 mph. No additional fire growth is expected.

Howe Ridge: Yesterday, crews removed and removed all suppression equipment from the Camas and Fish Creek areas. On the north end of the fire, crews utilized a chipper to reduce the fuels in the Wheeler Cabin and Lake McDonald Ranger Station Area. Today, suppression work will continue in the Upper Lake McDonald area. Fire behavior is minimal at this time. As traffic increases, so does danger to firefighters working along roads. Please stay aware and keep eyes on the road.

Boundary: Today, remaining fire personnel will be leave from the Goat Haunt area. Fire managers will monitor the fire with air patrol and a remote camera. In Glacier National Park, Waterton Lake trail is open for public use; the Boundary Trail remains closed. In Waterton Lakes National Park, the Lakeshore Trail from Bertha Bay to Boundary Bay is open, as is the Boundary Bay Backcountry Campground.

GENERAL FIRE INFORMATION
The majority of Glacier National Park is open. The Howe Ridge fire is burning in less than 1% of Glacier’s 1 million acres. The temporary closure area for public safety and fire suppression access is less than 5% of the park.

The Going-to-the-Sun Road is open to private vehicle travel and visitors can drive the entire length of the road. Drivers will not be able to stop along the road between Lake McDonald Lodge and the Avalanche Creek developed area. Avalanche is open for day use recreation, including day use areas, restrooms, the Trail of the Cedars, and the Avalanche Lake Trail. Flattop Trail and The Loop Trail are also open.

Closures: The North Lake McDonald road is closed as well as the Inside North Fork Road from Fish Creek to Logging Creek due to the Howe Ridge Fire. Trail closures are associated with the Howe Ridge and Boundary fires; full trail closures are reflected on the park’s website at: https://www.nps.gov/applications/glac/infobull/closures.cfm.

Air Operations: A Type 1 helicopter is assigned to the incident. At 1800 hours today, the Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) that is in place over the Howe Ridge Fire will be lifted. At all times, launching, landing or operating drones in Glacier National Park is prohibited.