Category: News

Clarification: Glacier Park’s free transit to residents under pre-evacuation orders

Some clarification on Glacier Park’s temporary Camas Road transit permit for North Forkers under pre-evacuation orders. This is relayed via Jim Dahlstrom, Polebridge District Ranger:

This is directly from Pete [Webster, Acting Superintendent] moments ago:

They just need to drive to the ticketed entry point at West glacier and state they are NF evacuation. They will be let in to the entrance where the fee collectors will issue a placard to them. For their next trip(s) they just need to show the placard.

Trying to keep it simple for everyone. We don’t need a list. Entrance will have a log of issued permits.

I did not state previously but this access goes through Monday 8/9. After that the NF road from C Falls should be good.

In case it was not clear the night closure for Camas applies to residents. No night travel M-Th.

See also: “Glacier Park offers free transit to residents under pre-evacuation orders“

Hay Creek Fire – Incident Update for July 29

(PDF version of this document: 2021-07-29-HayCreek-FNF-Update.pdf)

INCIDENT UPDATE
Fire activity was moderated by light rain Wednesday morning resulting in minimal smoke production throughout the day. Conditions were favorable to conduct small burnout operations to consume pockets of unburned fuel and help to hold the Hay Creek Road. Crews and heavy equipment continued to make progress strengthening fuel breaks, widening roads, and connecting past silvicultural forest management treatments. Nightshift observed single tree torching and several fire-weakened trees across the Hay Creek Road. Today fire personnel will work to cool spot fires identified south of the Hay Creek Road and continue to assess any structure protection needs. The Type 2 Incident Management Team (California 13) will transition to take over the fire on Sunday, August 1st.

EVACUATIONS
Evacuation Warnings include all residences east and west of the North Fork Road from Home Ranch Bottoms north to and including Moose Creek Road and the community of Polebridge. Glacier National Park (NP) has issued an Evacuation Warning for the North Fork area of Glacier NP north of Logging Creek. See details at https://go.usa.gov/xFjcA and Current Fire Information – Glacier National Park.

CLOSURES
Road and trail closures are in place. See details at Inciweb: https://go.usa.gov/xFjcC.

WEATHER AND AIR QUALITY
High pressure will strengthen over the area on Thursday bringing warmer temperatures and dry conditions. Winds will be 5-9 mph out of the Southwest with gusts up to 20 mph. Poor humidity recoveries in the thermal belts will allow active fire behavior throughout the evening. For the most current fire weather forecast go to https://www.weather.gov/wrh/fire?wfo=mso. For smoke and air quality go to http://svc.mt.gov/deq/todaysair/.
For current visibility in Glacier NP see https://www.nps.gov/glac/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm. Continue reading Hay Creek Fire – Incident Update for July 29

Hay Creek Fire – Incident Update for July 28

(PDF version of this document: 2021-07-28-HayCreek-FNF-Update.pdf)

INCIDENT UPDATE

On Tuesday, afternoon cloud cover moderated fire activity during the burn period for a second day. Downslope winds from the weather cell that moved through yesterday evening pushed the fire toward the Hay Creek Road on the southwest flank; today’s weather may provide an opportunity for firefighters to engage in firing operations to burn out the consumable fuels remaining between the Hay Creek Road and the perimeters of the main fire.

Crews were successful in laying approx. 7,000 feet of hose along the Hay Creek Road Tuesday, holding this line remains the priority objective for the current operational period. Heavy equipment task forces will continue work to widen existing roads to connect past silvicultural forest treatments and build contingency lines.

Monsoonal moisture from the southeast has led to increased humidity levels. However, weather trends are still seasonally hot and dry… active fire behavior will continue to be expected overnight.

EVACUATIONS

The Flathead County Sheriff’s department has expanded the phased Evacuation Warning to include all residences east and west of the North Fork Road from Home Ranch Bottoms north to and including Moose Creek Road and the community of Polebridge. Glacier National Park (NP) has issued an Evacuation Warning for the North Fork area of Glacier NP north of Logging Creek. See details at https://go.usa.gov/xFjcA and Current Fire Information – Glacier National Park.

CLOSURES

Road and trail closures are in place. See details at Inciweb: https://go.usa.gov/xFjcC.

WEATHER AND AIR QUALITY

Continue reading Hay Creek Fire – Incident Update for July 28

Hay Creek Fire – updated Public Information Map for July 28

Here’s the latest Hay Creek Fire Public Information Map showing fire extent, closures and current evacuation zone boundaries. The main change from yesterday’s map is the inclusion of a section of the Moose Creek drainage in the “Area Closure” zone . . .

July 28, 2021 Hay Creek Fire Map
July 28, 2021 Hay Creek Fire Map

PDF version: https://nflandowners.org/nflawp/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/July-28-2021-Hay-Creek-Fire-Map.pdf.

Glacier Park offers free transit to residents under pre-evacuation orders

For North Forkers under pre-evacuation orders, here is some very good news from Pete Webster, Acting Superintendent, Glacier National Park. Short version: If you are under pre-evacuation orders, you can get a temporary permit at West Glacier that will let you travel both ways on the Camas Road.

Read on…

Here is a message to share with the North Fork community.

We have been communicating with the Hay Creek Fire Incident Team, Forest Service, and Flathead County on fire conditions and projections, as well as pre-evacuation warning needs. We recognize the pre-evacuation warning is an early notice for folks to prepare for actual evacuation. While actual evacuation may be days or weeks away, pre-evacuation may require several trips back and forth to North Fork properties. As such we have come up with a system to support pre-evacuation travel needs that includes Camas Road for North Fork residents within the pre-evacuation warning zone. Those qualifying residents who identify themselves at West Glacier as pre-evacuation residents will be issued a temporary permit at the West Entrance that will let them travel Camas Road each way. [emphasis added]

Residents do need to recognize that traffic at West Glacier will be heavy at times, MDT US-2 construction has been active at West Glacier, and the Camas Road construction has delays and may not be easy travel as well. My understanding is the fire incident will be grading and providing dust abatement on the bad section of the North Fork Road south of the Camas Bridge, beginning this weekend perhaps.

Monday-Thursday nighttime closures on Camas Road will remain in effect for public traffic 7pm-6am, including pre-evacuation travel for North Fork residents. Although do note, the fire incident team and the evacuation team are coordinated with the Camas construction, so the nighttime Camas closure can be adjusted to support emergency egress should that be necessary.

We are paying close attention and are in direct communication with all aspects of the Hay Creek Fire.

Thank you,

Pete Webster
Acting Superintendent
Glacier National Park

Fuel breaks keep Hay Creek Fire hemmed in near Glacier Park

Hay Creek Fire burning up against Hay Creek Road west of Polebridge, July 26, 2021 - USFS
Hay Creek Fire burning up against Hay Creek Road west of Polebridge, July 26, 2021 – USFS

Here’s a good summary of the wildland fires in the area . . .

Fire crews battling a 1,350-acre blaze near the community of Polebridge are working to keep the lightning-sparked fire hemmed in against Hay Creek Road and existing fuel breaks.

Dubbed the Hay Creek Fire for its location in the Hay Creek drainage west of the North Fork Flathead River and Glacier National Park, the fire was aided by cloud cover on Monday, when fire officials reported moderate activity and growth. The fire remained active on its west flank, however, exhibiting isolated and group tree torching, as well as short wind-driven crown runs.

Continue reading . . .