Page 16 - Flathead Beacon // 7.29.15

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JULY 29, 2015 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM
NEWS FEATURE
FIREFIGHTERS CORRAL
MASSIVE WILDFIRE IN GLACIER PARK
As of Monday, the Reynolds Creek Fire had burned more than 3,200 acres of land on the east side of Glacier Park
BY JUSTIN FRANZ
WATERTON LAKES
Nearly a week after a massive wildfire closed off a section of Glacier National Park, visi- tors were once again roaming the St. Mary Visitor Center on July 27.
The visitor center was the first of a handful of facilities that are reopening this week. The St. Mary Campground was expected to welcome back visitors July 29, and the west side of Going-to- the-Sun Road was slated to reopen to Logan Pass this week as well, according to fire officials.
Those sites, along with the Rising Sun Campground and Rising Sun Motor Inn, were closed a week ago when the Reynolds Creek Fire grew from a 2-acre burn to a 2,000-acre monster in a matter of hours. The blaze is one of the top priority fires in the nation and, as of Monday, had burned 3,327 acres of land on the east side of Gla- cier Park. It was 30 percent contained on July27.
Cold weather and precipitation was forecast to hit the region this week and could help firefighters continue to corral the fire. The relief could be short-lived, though. Temperatures are expected to return to the 90s later this week.
At a public meeting in West Glacier on July 26, Glacier National Park Super- intendent Jeff Mow said the entire Sun Road would be open again “when it’s
REYNOLDS CREEK FIRE 2015 PARK
GLACIER NATIONAL PARK
The Reynolds Creek Fire burning in the St. Mary region of Glacier National Park. GREG LINDSTROM | FLATHEAD BEACON
safe.” He said it is possible that some trails in the area of the fire, which started in the Reynolds Creek area, may not reopen this year.
On July 26, firefighters used explosives to build a 4,000-foot fire line in an ava- lanche chute not far from the Sun Road. Firefighters are also focusing on building line in the Two Dog Flats area to prevent the fire from heading toward the commu- nity of St. Mary. On Monday, officials said it is likely the fire would continue to grow in areas where fire lines have not been constructed.
On Sunday morning, the manda- tory evacuation along the west shore of Lower St. Mary Lake was downgraded to a Level 2 “warning.” The Level 2 status of the east side of lower St. Mary Lake will be downgraded to a Level 3 “advisory.” The town site of St. Mary will continue to remain at a Level 3.
Evacuation orders have been lifted for National Park Service employee housing and administrative areas.
The incident had cost $3.5 million, as of July 27, according to fire officials. There were 650 personnel and seven air- craft assigned to the incident. The cause remains under investigation.
Visit www.FlatheadBeacon.com for updated information.
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NATIONAL
The Loop
Going to the Sun Road
Lake McDonald Lodge
Apgar West Glacier
Logan Pass
St. Mary
REYNOLDS CREEK FIRE
3,200 ACRES
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10 MILES
Many Glacier
East Glacier
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