News Release

Howe Ridge and Boundary Fires Update Tuesday, September 25, 2018; 8:30 am

Date: September 25, 2018
Contact: Fire Information, 406-578-8256

West Glacier, MT. - Weather: Today will be partly cloudy. Temperatures will be in the mid-50’s with chances of wetting rain at 10%. Winds will be southwest at 5-10 mph. Fire behavior will be minimal. No additional fire growth is expected.

Howe Ridge: Yesterday, crews patrolled the Camas and Fish Creek areas on foot. On the north end of the fire, crews continued fuel reduction operations. A Type IV incident management team will be taking over fire operations Friday, September 28 at 1800. Today, fire management will monitor the fire and prepare plans to assist the new team. 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, 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.