Update: June 29, 10 a.m.
Fire managers have warned six homeowners in the Blankenship area north of Columbia Falls that they may have to evacuate as the Glacier Rim Fire continues to grow.
On Monday morning, 90 firefighters were battling the 80-acre fire along the North Fork of the Flathead River on the western boundary of Glacier National Park. The fire is 25 percent contained, according to Flathead National Forest Public Information Officer Ema Braunberger.
Thunderstorms and gusty winds are forecasted for Monday afternoon and six homeowners in the Blankenship area have been warned that they may have to leave. Two homeowners have already elected to evacuate. Temperatures are expected to stay in the high 80s and low 90s through the week.
Firefighters will focus on building firebreaks around the blaze today, although crews are having trouble reaching one side of the fire because of snags and rugged terrain, according to Braunberger.
Officials have determined that the fire was human-caused and started in a rock quarry on Saturday. It grew from less than one acre to 30 acres in a matter of hours, and by Saturday evening was producing smoke that was visible from the valley. On Sunday, a Type III incident management team was brought in the battle the blaze.
The North Fork Road was temporarily closed Saturday but later reopened. Law enforcement is asking travelers not to stop on either the road or the river. Bulletin boards are set up on both sides of the fire with updated information and a public information line has been established at 406-387-3867.
Temperatures hit 102 degrees on Sunday, an all-time record high for Kalispell for the month of June.
This story has been corrected to note that six structures are threatened by the fire. It originally stated that eight structures were threatened.
This story will be updated throughout the day.