Reynolds Creek Fire update: July 26th
July 27, 2015
Glacier National Park, Sunday, July 26, 8:00PM:
The Reynold Creek Fire started on Tuesday, July 21st approximately 6 miles east of Logan Pass, west of St. Mary Lake. Current size is estimated at 3, 237 acres and it is about 30% contained. The cause is under investigation. One structure has been lost, the historic Baring Creek patrol cabin. The fire is burning along the north shore of Saint Mary Lake, in rocky, rugged terrain and burning in timber, brush, and grass. Recent rains have subdued the fire, but it still possesses potential for activity when drier weather conditions return.
Resources on the fire: Resources from Flathead National Forest, Glacier County, East Glacier, Babb, St. Mary, Cutbank, Evergreen, and West Valley Fire Departments, Blackfeet Fire Management, Montana Department of Natural Resources, Flathead County, as well as Glacier County and Montana Disaster & Emergency Services are assisting Glacier National Park. There are currently 655 personnel assigned on the fire, including seven Interagency Hotshot crews and eight 20-person hand crews and other various personnel. There are 24 engines, 7 helicopters and multiple shared air resources working on the fire.
Restrictions and Closures:
The St. Mary Visitor Center at the east entrance to Glacier National Park will reopen on Monday July 27. Hours are from 8 am to 6 pm.
Going-to-the-Sun Road is closed from the St. Mary Visitor Center to Big Bend on the west side of the Divide, a distance of 18 miles. The St. Mary Campground, the Rising Sun Motor Inn, the Rising Sun Campground and Logan Pass are not yet open to the public.
The Sperry Trail is open from Lake McDonald Lodge to Gunsight Pass. Travel beyond the pass is closed due to the fire. Lake Ellen Wilson Backcountry site is now reopened.
The Level 1 (mandatory evacuation) along the west shore of Lower St. Mary Lake was downgraded to Level 2 (warning). The Level 2 status of the east side of lower St. Mary Lake has been downgraded to Level 3 (advisory). The town site of St. Mary remains at a Level 3.
National Park Service employees are now able to access housing and administrative areas.
Current status: Glacier National Park remains open, and excellent recreation opportunities abound. On Sunday, fire crews built line next to the fire’s edge, supported by water drops from helicopters. Below the Going-to-the-Sun Road (east side of the Divide), fireline explosives were used to build fireline in an avalanche chute with heavy brush and downed logs. Firefighters continue dropping snags and clearing debris near the Going-to-the-Sun Road in areas affected by the fire.
For more information and updates: For information on current park activities, visit www.nps.gov/glac, Facebook.com/GlacierNPS, twitter.com/glaciernps, or flickr.com/photos/glaciernps. Additionally, current conditions can be viewed on park webcams at: http://www.nps.gov/glac/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm. Additional updates about the wildfire can be found on the Inciweb national fire situation website: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov; on the top right corner of the homepage, select Reynolds Creek Fire from the drop-down list.
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