Update: July 28, 4 p.m.
Visitors will once again be able to drive to Logan Pass from the west side of Glacier National Park starting Wednesday.
The news that the west side of the Going-to-the-Sun Road will be open comes as firefighters contain nearly half of the wildfire burning on the east side of the park.
Cooler temperatures and high relative humidity aided crews’ efforts on Monday as the Reynolds Creek Fire held steady with minimal creeping and smoldering. Containment lines were completed on the southwest section of the fire and portions of the northeast side, the head of the fire, according to the incident’s public information officers.
As the fire settles, facilities are reopening across the park. The St. Mary Visitor Center welcomed visitors on Monday morning. The Logan Pass Visitor Center will reopen at 9 a.m. Wednesday.
“Providing visitor access to Logan Pass is a priority for the park,” said Superintendent Jeff Mow. “It comes with some unique challenges as the east side of the road is closed due to the Reynolds Creek Fire, and we are in the peak of our visitor season.
“We always consider employee and visitor safety in our decisions and actions, as well as the logistical nuances. This is a unique situation and we respectfully request park visitors to be patient and flexible during this time,” Mow said.
If the Going-to-the-Sun Road becomes too congested, park rangers may turn vehicles around at Big Bend or Avalanche Creek for public safety. Parking is limited at Logan Pass so visitors may not be able to park and go inside the visitor center. Logan Pass will be closed to overnight parking, and overnight parking along the Going-to-the-Sun Road is not encouraged at this time.
Type I Incident Commander Greg Poncin of Kalispell and his team will focus on connecting the containment lines along the northeast side Tuesday, according to officials. Temperatures are expected to return to the 90s later this week.
The fire is listed at 45 percent contained. After improved mapping through infrared flights and GPS, the incident is listed at 3,170 acres. There are 691 personnel battling the blaze. The incident has cost $4.3 million. The cause remains under investigation.
»»» Click here to view a map of the fire.
Crews are still conducting full suppression of the fire with aggressive aerial support, according to Katie Limings, public information officer. Once the blaze is fully contained, the incident management team could let the interior of the fire continue to burn, Limings said.