A brief fire update…
According to District Fire Management Officer Andy Huntsberger, there’s nothing going on with the Hay Creek Fire — not even any smoke. If you saw a helicopter buzzing around yesterday, it was picking up a radio communications repeater from Numa Peak that was used during firefighting efforts.
Yay! All fire restrictions are lifted as of Wednesday, August 25th, 2021 at 12:01AM . . .
The areas closed to the public due to the Hay Creek Fire are much reduced. Only the Hay creek drainage west of the Spruce Creek Road intersection remains closed. Everything else is reopening.
PDF version: https://nflandowners.org/nflawp/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Revised-Hay-Creek-Fire-Closure.pdf
The evacuation warning for the Hay Creek Fire was lifted by the Flathead Country Sheriff on August 18, 2021. The current Type 3 incident management team will transition to a local Type 4 incident command from the Flathead National Forest on Saturday, August 21 at 0700. Hungry Horse-Glacier View Fire Management will maintain resources on the Hay Creek Fire for the foreseeable future. Crews will continue to cleanup and rehab the fire area.
The last public meeting was held on August 19. There are no more public meetings currently planned.
Hungry Horse-Glacier View Ranger District is currently evaluating rental cabins reopening and the future size and scope of area, road, and trail closures. For current information, please visit InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/7712/62192/.
Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are in effect with campfires prohibited. Know Before You Go- Visit www.mtfireinfo.org for additional Montana fire restrictions.
As of August 18, 2021 the evacuation warnings have been lifted. Road, trail, and area closures are in place. See details at https://go.usa.gov/xFjcA and Current Fire Information – Glacier National Park.
Here’s the latest Hay Creek Fire Public Information Map showing fire extent, closures and current evacuation zone boundaries . . .
Unless there’s a significant change in the fire’s status, this map will be updated much less often — if at all — as the Hay Creek Fire winds down. By August 21, Hay Creek Fire operations will be transferred to a local Type 4 team based out of the Hungry-Horse-Glacier View District. From that point, information on the fire will be coming directly from the Flathead National Forest.
PDF version: https://nflandowners.org/nflawp/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Hay-Creek-Fire-Public-Info-Map-for-August-20-2021.pdf
A reminder that we’re still not entirely off the hook…
It’s official! The sheriff’s office lifted all posted evacuation warnings for the Hay Creek Fire, effective August 18, 2021.
On Saturday, August 21, management of the Hay Creek Fire will be transferred to a Type 4 organization from the Flathead National Forest. A community meeting will be held at the Sondreson Hall on Thursday, August 19th, at 6:00 pm.
Crews will continue to wrap up operations involved with fuel reduction along roads and contingency lines, and patrol and mop up hot spots as needed. The helibase has been moved from the Hay Creek Incident Base in
West Glacier to the Hungry Horse Ranger Station Helibase. Equipment and supplies are being removed from the fire.
The fire received a wetting rain and snow in the higher elevations on Tuesday. From this point on, Hay Creek Fire information will be updated only as there are changes in fire activity or area trail and road closures. For current information, please visit InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/7712/62192/.
Northwest Montana is in VERY HIGH fire danger; Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are in effect with campfires prohibited. Know Before You Go- Visit www.mtfireinfo.org for additional Montana fire restrictions.
Evacuation Warnings remain in effect. See details at https://go.usa.gov/xFjcA and Current Fire Information – Glacier National Park. Road and trail closures are in place.
Here’s the latest Hay Creek Fire Public Information Map showing fire extent, closures and current evacuation zone boundaries . . .
Unless there’s a significant change in the fire’s status, this map will be updated much less often — if at all — as the Hay Creek Fire winds down. By August 21, Hay Creek Fire operations will be transferred to a local Type 4 team based out of the Hungry-Horse-Glacier View District. From that point, information on the fire will be coming directly from the Flathead National Forest.
PDF version: https://nflandowners.org/nflawp/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Hay-Creek-Fire-Public-Info-Map-for-August-18-2021.pdf
The fire size is still estimated at 2894 acres (1171ha) and containment is steady at 30%. As this is being posted, rain is falling on the area, with more in the forecast, and the fire is hopefully winding down.
By the end of this week, the command post near West Glacier will be shut down and Hay Creek Fire operations will be transferred to a local Type 4 team based out of the Hungry-Horse-Glacier View District. There will be an Incident Commander and resources assigned to the Hay Creek Fire for the foreseeable future, but not at the levels we’ve seen recently. Unless fire status changes significantly, there will be minimal updates and fire information going out. Information on the fire will be coming directly from the Flathead National Forest.
So, although this may not be the last Hay Creek Fire update, it will no longer be a daily occurrence. Keep an eye on this website for related news and events.
Also, there is a Hay Creek Fire community meeting in the Sondreson Hall parking lot on Thursday, August 19 at 6:00pm. This is an opportunity to get information on what fire operations and information management will look like going forward.