Tag: Quartz Fire

Aug 26: Quartz Fire grows two acres; crews patrolling after Thursday’s lightning

Quartz Fire aerial, August 25, 2022 - NPS
Quartz Fire aerial, August 25, 2022 – NPS

From the Press release . . .

National Park Service
Glacier National Park
Incident Commander: M. Lewelling

Fire Information Email: glac_fire_line@nps.gov
Fire Information Recording: 406-206-6099
Fire Information Office: 406-206-5272 (8 am to 6 pm)

Quartz Fire grows two acres; crews patrolling after Thursday’s lightning 

Current Situation: The Quartz Fire was mapped at 1698 acres last night, resulting in a two acre increase over the infrared mapping done Tuesday night. Consistent rains over the past few days have significantly reduced fire activity. Scattered heat remains within the fire’s perimeter.

Wet weather over the Quartz Fire resulted in additional lightning to the area. Glacier fire personnel observed many lightning strikes resulting in two fires in the northwest region of the park. The Numa Lookout observed one lightning strike in the late afternoon resulting in a tree torching. A crew accessed the area via helicopter but did not find any active fire yesterday. Firefighters will hike in from Bowman Lake today to patrol the area and will be prepared to respond if any new fires are discovered. Firefighters located at Quartz Lake observed a second lightning strike in the Quartz drainage near the Quartz Fire, but there was no smoke observed after the afternoon rain. Crews will continue to patrol and scout the Quartz area today.

Weather: Winds are expected to increase on Friday ahead of a cold front that will pass over Glacier on Saturday. Winds will be 10-20 mph from the west through the day and 5-15 mph overnight, which may slightly increase fire activity during the warmest part of the day. Smoke may be visible if fire activity increases.

Closures: Glacier National Park has enacted a Closure Order for the areas, campgrounds, and trails within the Quartz Lake drainage from the Continental Divide to the Inside North Fork Road for the protection of park visitors, employees, and natural resources. This includes the Quartz Lake Loop trails starting from just south of Bowman Lake toward Quartz Lake, as well as the Quartz Lake and Lower Quartz Lake Wilderness Campgrounds. A map of the closure is available on InciWeb.

Fire Restrictions: The fire danger rating in Glacier National Park is currently Very High. All park visitors are reminded that campfires are allowed only in designated fire rings or grates and should be kept small. Never leave a fire unattended and drown any campfire with water until cold to the touch before leaving it.

Air Quality: National air quality and smoke conditions can be monitored at https://fire.airnow.gov/. Visibility in different parts of Glacier National Park can vary from hour to hour, depending on fire and wind conditions both locally and throughout the west. Check the park’s webcams at https://www.nps.gov/glac/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm for current views.

Quartz Fire Statistics:
Size: Approximately 1698 acres
Total Personnel: 35
Start Date: Sunday, August 14, 2022
Containment: 0%
Cause: Lightning
Location: 25 miles north of West Glacier

Quartz Fire Closure Map, August 18, 2022
Quartz Fire Closure Map, August 18, 2022

Aug 25: Weather tempers fire activity on Quartz Fire

Quartz Fire before a rainstorm on August 23, 2022 - NPS
Quartz Fire before a rainstorm on August 23, 2022 – NPS

From the press release . . .

National Park Service
Glacier National Park
Incident Commander: M. Lewelling

Fire Information Email: glac_fire_line@nps.gov
Fire Information Recording: 406-206-6099
Fire Information Office: 406-206-5272 (8 am to 6 pm) 

Weather tempers fire activity on Quartz Fire  

Current Situation: Weather has limited fire activity on the Quartz Fire over the past two days, and no measurable growth has been recorded. Additional rain is expected over the fire area today with a chance of lightning in the general area this afternoon.

Fire personnel continue scouting areas near the fire and assessing structures and other park facilities in anticipation of drier weather moving into the fire area and potential increased fire activity in the coming days. Crews continue to be available to respond to any new fire starts that may result from recent lightning.

Quartz Fire after rain showers on August 23, 2022 - NPS
Quartz Fire after rain showers on August 23, 2022 – NPS

Weather: Showers and thunderstorms are predicted to continue today. On Friday, showers and thunderstorm activity are forecast to become less widespread. A dry cold front is expected to pass over the fire area starting Saturday. The frontal passage is expected to bring lower relative humidity and gusty winds over the weekend and into early next week. These conditions may lead to increased fire activity through the weekend.

Closures: Glacier National Park has enacted a Closure Order for the areas, campgrounds, and trails within the Quartz Lake drainage from the Continental Divide to the Inside North Fork Road for the protection of park visitors, employees, and natural resources. This includes the Quartz Lake Loop trails starting from just south of Bowman Lake toward Quartz Lake, as well as the Quartz Lake and Lower Quartz Lake Wilderness Campgrounds. A map of the closure is available on InciWeb.

Fire Restrictions: The fire danger rating in Glacier National Park is currently Very High. All park visitors are reminded that campfires are allowed only in designated fire rings or grates and should be kept small. Never leave a fire unattended and drown any campfire with water until cold to the touch before leaving it.

Air Quality: National air quality and smoke conditions can be monitored at https://fire.airnow.gov/. Visibility in different parts of Glacier National Park can vary from hour to hour, depending on fire and wind conditions both locally and throughout the west. Check the park’s webcams at https://www.nps.gov/glac/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm for current views. 

Quartz Fire Statistics: Size: Approximately 1696 acres
Total Personnel: 35
Start Date: Sunday, August 14, 2022
Containment: 0%
Cause: Lightning
Location: 25 miles north of West Glacier

Quartz Fire Perimeter and Closure Area, August 24, 2022
Quartz Fire Perimeter and Closure Area, August 24, 2022

Aug 24: Wet weather results in minimal growth on Quartz Fire

Structure Protection Pump and Quartz Fire August 21, 2022 - NPS
Structure Protection Pump and Quartz Fire August 21, 2022 – NPS

From the press release . . .

Incident Commander: M. Lewelling
Fire Information Recording: 406-206-6099
Fire Information Phone: 406-206-5272 (8 am to 6 pm)
Fire Information Email: glac_fire_line@nps.gov

Wet weather results in minimal growth on Quartz Fire

Current Situation: No new fire activity was observed on the Quartz Fire yesterday. Last night’s infrared flight mapped 18 acres of fire growth over the past two days, with the current fire acreage at 1696 acres. Scattered and isolated heat sources were detected with no areas of intense heat.

Wildland Fire Module crew members relieved Glacier National Park firefighters at Quartz Lake yesterday. Firefighters at Quartz Lake will continue structure protection efforts and scout areas near the fire. Additional crews will patrol both the east and west sides of Glacier National Park for any new fires resulting from recent and ongoing lightning.

Weather: Showers and thunderstorms are expected again today and are expected to become stronger in the afternoon. The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch from noon through late tonight. High temperatures are forecasted to be 80-90° in valleys and 63-73° on ridges. Rains in the fire area have increased humidity levels over the past few days. Higher humidity has contributed to reduced fire behavior. Humidity is expected to remain high into the weekend.

Closures: Glacier National Park has enacted a Closure Order for the areas, campgrounds, and trails within the Quartz Lake drainage from the Continental Divide to the Inside North Fork Road for the protection of park visitors, employees, and natural resources. This includes the Quartz Lake Loop trails starting from just south of Bowman Lake toward Quartz Lake, as well as the Quartz Lake and Lower Quartz Lake Wilderness Campgrounds. A map of the closure is available on InciWeb.

Fire Restrictions: The fire danger rating in Glacier National Park is currently Very High. All park visitors are reminded that campfires are allowed only in designated fire rings or grates and should be kept small. Never leave a fire unattended and drown any campfire with water until cold to the touch before leaving it.

Air Quality: National air quality and smoke conditions can be monitored at https://fire.airnow.gov/. Visibility in different parts of Glacier National Park can vary from hour to hour, depending on fire and wind conditions both locally and throughout the west. Check the park’s webcams at https://www.nps.gov/glac/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm for current views.

Size: Approximately 1,696 acres
Total Personnel: 35
Start Date: Sunday, August 14, 2022
InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8337/
Containment: 0%
Cause: Lightning
Location: 25 miles north of West Glacier
Fire Information Office: 406-206-5272

For the Quartz Fire Public Information map, see https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/maps/8337/

Quartz Fire Heat Map, August 24, 2022
Quartz Fire Heat Map, August 24, 2022
Quartz Fire Perimeter and Closure Area, August 24, 2022
Quartz Fire Perimeter and Closure Area, August 24, 2022

Aug 23: Additional firefighters arrive to Quartz Fire; West Flattop Fire contained

Quartz Fire from the air August 21, 2022 - NPS
Quartz Fire from the air August 21, 2022 – NPS

From the press release . . .

Incident Commander: M. Lewelling
Fire Information Recording: 406-206-6099
Fire Information Phone: 406-206-5272 (8 am to 6 pm)
Fire Information Email: glac_fire_line@nps.gov

Additional firefighters arrive to Quartz Fire; West Flattop Fire contained

Current Situation: Fire activity moderated on the Quartz Fire yesterday due to slightly cooler temperatures and scattered rain. No significant growth was observed. Updated infrared mapping was not available last night, so the fire remains 1,678 acres.

Nine firefighters, known as a Wildland Fire Module, arrived to assist with management of the Quartz Fire. They will relieve Glacier National Park firefighters who had been assigned to the fire, freeing them to respond to any new fires detected from recent lighting. An additional engine with six firefighters has also arrived to assist with future initial attack needs.

Firefighters were successful in suppressing the West Flattop Fire at less than an acre. Three Glacier National Park firefighters were flown into the fire on Monday and contained the fire by late afternoon.

Weather: A low pressure system coming from the west will result in increased rain showers and thunderstorms over most of western Montana including Glacier National Park. There is a 60 percent chance of precipitation today, and those storms will bring a 50 percent chance of lighting. Today’s high temperatures are predicted to be 85-95° in valleys and 68-78° on ridges, with ridge top northeast winds of 5-10 mph becoming east later in the day.

Closures: Glacier National Park has enacted a Closure Order for the areas, campgrounds, and trails within the Quartz Lake drainage from the Continental Divide to the Inside North Fork Road for the protection of park visitors, employees, and natural resources. This includes the Quartz Lake Loop trails starting from just south of Bowman Lake toward Quartz Lake, as well as the Quartz Lake and Lower Quartz Lake Wilderness Campgrounds. A map of the closure is available on InciWeb.

Fire Restrictions: The fire danger rating in Glacier National Park is currently Very High. All park visitors are reminded that campfires are allowed only in designated fire grates and should be kept small. Never leave a fire unattended and drown any campfire with water until cold to the touch before leaving it.

Air Quality: National air quality and smoke conditions can be monitored at https://fire.airnow.gov/. Visibility in different parts of Glacier National Park can vary from hour to hour, depending on fire and wind conditions both locally and throughout the west. Check the park’s webcams at https://www.nps.gov/glac/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm for current views.

Size: Approximately 1,678 acres
Total Personnel: 30
Start Date: Sunday, August 14, 2022
InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8337/
Containment: 0%
Cause: Lightning
Location: 25 miles north of West Glacier
Fire Information Office: 406-206-5272

Quartz Fire Heat Map, August 22, 2022
Quartz Fire Heat Map, August 22, 2022
Quartz Fire Closure Map, August 18, 2022
Quartz Fire Closure Map, August 18, 2022

Aug 22: Firefighters continue efforts on Quartz Fire; new start detected in Glacier 

Quartz Fire August 18 evening - NPS
Quartz Fire August 18 evening – NPS

From the press release. The Quartz Fire picked up another 423 acres. There’s also some information about the Flattop Fire . . .

Incident Commander: M. Lewelling
Fire Information Recording: 406-206-6099
Fire Information Phone: 406-206-5272 (8 am to 6 pm)
Fire Information Email: glac_fire_line@nps.gov

Firefighters continue efforts on Quartz Fire; new start detected in Glacier 

Current Situation: The Quartz Fire continued to spread primarily to the south and west yesterday, moving farther down the Quartz Lake shore. There was additional growth in a high basin on the northwest side of Logging Mountain. On the north end, the fire remains east and south of Quartz Creek. Fire activity moderated in the afternoon after rain fell in the fire area. An infrared flight mapped the fire at 1,678 acres last night.

Firefighters based at the foot of Quartz Lake completed plumbing sprinklers at the Quartz Lake wilderness campground yesterday and are expected to complete structure protection on a footbridge at the outlet of Quartz Lake today.

A new fire was reported in Glacier National Park after a Sunday afternoon lightning storm. Smoke from the West Flattop Fire was first observed from Swiftcurrent Lookout at 4:37 pm. The lightning was accompanied by rain, and fire growth was limited to one-tenth acre. Three Glacier National Park firefighters will be inserted via a Flathead National Forest helicopter this morning to suppress the fire on West Flattop Mountain.

Glacier National Park, along with interagency partners from the Flathead National Forest and Blackfeet Tribe, will continue to patrol for any additional fire starts from Sunday’s storm.

Weather: Today’s forecast is for continued hot weather with partly cloudy skies. There is a chance of rain showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms tonight, with continued rainfall possible through the week.

Closures: Glacier National Park has enacted a Closure Order for the areas, campgrounds, and trails within the Quartz Lake drainage from the Continental Divide to the Inside North Fork Road for the protection of park visitors, employees, and natural resources. This includes the Quartz Lake Loop trails starting from just south of Bowman Lake toward Quartz Lake, as well as the Quartz Lake and Lower Quartz Lake Wilderness Campgrounds. A map of the closure is available on InciWeb.

Fire Restrictions: The fire danger rating in Glacier National Park is currently Very High. All park visitors are reminded that campfires are allowed only in designated fire grates and should be kept small. Never leave a fire unattended and drown any campfire with water until cold to the touch before leaving it. 

Air Quality: National air quality and smoke conditions can be monitored at https://fire.airnow.gov/. Visibility in different parts of Glacier National Park can vary from hour to hour, depending on fire and wind conditions both locally and throughout the west. Check the park’s webcams at https://www.nps.gov/glac/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm for current views.

Size: Approximately 1,678 acres
Total Personnel: 25
Start Date: Sunday, August 14, 2022
InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8337/
Containment: 0%
Cause: Lightning
Location: 25 miles north of West Glacier
Fire Information Office: 406-206-5272

Quartz Fire Heat Map, August 22, 2022
Quartz Fire Heat Map, August 22, 2022
Quartz Fire Closure Map, August 18, 2022
Quartz Fire Closure Map, August 18, 2022

Aug 21: Quartz Fire transitions to Type 3 Incident Management Team

Quartz Lake Patrol Cabin, structure wrap Aug 20 - NPS
Quartz Lake Patrol Cabin, structure wrap Aug 20 – NPS

From the press release . . .

Incident Commander: M. Lewelling
Fire Information Recording: 406-206-6099
Fire Information Phone: 406-206-5272 (8 am to 6 pm)
Fire Information Email: glac_fire_line@nps.gov

Quartz Fire transitions to Type 3 Incident Management Team

Current Situation: The Quartz Fire remained active yesterday afternoon and throughout the night, with isolated tree torching and movement on the southwestern flank within the remote Quartz drainage. Cloud cover last night made it impossible to accurately map the fire. Management of the Quartz Fire transitions to a Type 3 Incident Management Team under Incident Commander Mike Lewelling today.

Firefighters completed structure protection at the Quartz Lake Patrol Cabin yesterday and remain at that location to fine-tune protection efforts and evaluate fire behavior. Crews will also be working to reduce the risk to the wilderness campground and cultural resources in that area. Fire behavior and movement will continue to be evaluated from the air to plan future fire responses.

Initial attack resources will patrol both the west and east sides of Glacier National Park looking for any new fires which may have been ignited by last night’s lightning. Glacier National Park and Blackfeet Fire Agency engine crews are working cooperatively to patrol and respond to any new fire activity on the east side.

Weather: Today’s weather is predicted to be partly cloudy with a chance of afternoon thunderstorms. Maximum temperatures will be 88-98 in valleys and 70-80 on ridges. Nighttime lows will be 44-55 in valleys and 55-60 on ridges. Winds are predicted to be from the southwest at 5-10 mph. Chance of lightning is 40 percent today and 50 percent tonight.

Closures: Glacier National Park has enacted a Closure Order for the areas, campgrounds, and trails within the Quartz Lake drainage from the Continental Divide to the Inside North Fork Road for the protection of park visitors, employees, and natural resources. This includes the Quartz Lake Loop trails starting from just south of Bowman Lake toward Quartz Lake, as well as the Quartz Lake and Lower Quartz Lake Wilderness Campgrounds. A map of the closure is available on InciWeb.

Fire Restrictions: The fire danger rating in Glacier National Park is currently Very High. All park visitors are reminded that campfires are allowed only in designated fire grates and should be kept small. Never leave a fire unattended and drown any campfire with water until cold to the touch before leaving it.

Air Quality: National air quality and smoke conditions can be monitored at https://fire.airnow.gov/. Visibility in different parts of Glacier National Park can vary from hour to hour, depending on fire and wind conditions both locally and throughout the west. Check the park’s webcams at https://www.nps.gov/glac/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm for current views.

Size: Approximately 1,255 acres
Total Personnel: 15
Start Date: Sunday, August 14, 2022
InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8337/
Containment: 0%
Cause: Lightning

Location: 25 miles north of West Glacier

Fire Information Office: 406-206-5272

Quartz Fire Heat Map, August 21, 2022
Quartz Fire Heat Map, August 21, 2022
Quartz Fire Closure Map, August 18, 2022
Quartz Fire Closure Map, August 18, 2022

Aug 20: Quartz Fire Continues to Burn Actively 

Quartz Fire Heat Map, August 20, 2022
Quartz Fire Heat Map, August 20, 2022

From the official August 20 press release…

Current Situation: The Quartz Fire, mapped at 1163 acres last night, continues to burn within in the remote Quartz drainage of Glacier National Park. Yesterday’s hot and dry weather allowed the fire to grow to the south where it spread to the basin of Logging Mountain. On the west edge, the fire moved downhill to reach the northeast shore of Quartz Lake. Fire was limited to the east by steep rocky terrain and lack of fuel. Smoke may be visible from the North Fork and Flathead valleys.

The National Park Service responds to and manages every fire within park boundaries. Firefighters will complete structure protection preparations today near Quartz Lake. Land and air resources will continue patrolling the Quartz Fire, ready to respond as necessary to this fire, and to any new starts caused by lightning.

Fire behavior is anticipated to continue to progress to the southwest with backing and flanking and short occasional uphill runs. Smoke will continue to be visible from the North Fork and Flathead valleys as well as some haze to the east.

Weather: Today’s weather is predicted to continue to be hot with high temperatures of 90-100 degrees in the valleys and 75-85 degrees on ridges. Winds are expected to transition to a more typical westerly/southwesterly flow. There is a 30 percent chance of lightning today and a 40 percent chance of lightning tonight. 

Closures: Glacier National Park has enacted a Closure Order for the areas, campgrounds, and trails within the Quartz Lake drainage from the Continental Divide to the Inside North Fork Road for the protection of park visitors, employees, and natural resources. This includes the Quartz Lake Loop trails starting from just south of Bowman Lake toward Quartz Lake, as well as the Quartz Lake and Lower Quartz Lake Wilderness Campgrounds. A map of the closure is available on InciWeb.

Fire Restrictions: The fire danger rating in Glacier National Park is currently Very High. All park visitors are reminded that campfires are allowed only in designated fire grates and should be kept small. Never leave a fire unattended and drown campfires with water until cold to the touch before leaving it. 

Air Quality: National air quality and smoke conditions can be monitored at https://fire.airnow.gov/. Visibility in different parts of Glacier National Park can vary from hour to hour, depending on fire and wind conditions both locally and throughout the west. Check the park’s webcams at https://www.nps.gov/glac/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm for current views.

Size: Approximately 1163 acres Containment: 0%
Total Personnel: 9 Cause: Lightning
Start Date: Sunday, August 14, 2022 Location: 25 miles north of West Glacier
InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8337/ Fire Information Office: 406-206-5272 

Quartz Fire morning update for August 19

Summary: The Quartz Fire in Glacier Park was quite active over the past couple of days, filling the area full of smoke. It is currently estimated at 802 acres, based on this morning’s heat imagery.

According to this morning’s IR (heat mapping) pass, The Quartz Fire is at 802 acres, with the most intense heat being along the southern perimeter. The Quartz Fire continued to grow yesterday (Thursday, Aug 18) due to east northeast winds. Progression slowed since Wednesday’s initial run, but fire behavior remained active.

Firefighters have initiated structure and area protection for the Quartz Lake Patrol Cabin, Quartz Lake Wilderness Campground, and a footbridge at the foot of Quartz Lake.

Glacier National Park has enacted a closure order for the areas, campgrounds, and trails within the Quartz Lake drainage from the Continental Divide to the Inside North Fork Road for the protection of park visitors, employees, and natural resources. This includes the Quartz Lake Loop trails starting from just south of Bowman Lake toward Quartz Lake, as well as the Quartz Lake and Lower Quartz Lake Wilderness Campgrounds.

Monitor the Quartz Fire InciWeb site for additional information (https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8337/). Also keep an eye on the NFLA website for fire-related postings.

Quartz Fire Heat Map, August 19, 2022
Quartz Fire Heat Map, August 19, 2022
Quartz Fire Location
Quartz Fire Location
Quartz Fire Closure Map, August 18, 2022
Quartz Fire Closure Map, August 18, 2022

Quartz Fire evening update for Thursday, August 18

The Quartz Fire in Glacier Park is becoming a nuisance. As of this evening, it is estimated at 500 acres, up from 150 yesterday. Here’s the word from the Quartz Fire InciWeb site . . .

The Quartz Fire continued to grow today due to east northeast winds. Progression slowed since yesterday, but fire behavior remained active. The fire is currently estimated at 500 acres – fire managers have requested an infrared flight tonight in hopes of getting more accurate mapping which was not possible today due to smoke.

Firefighters have initiated structure and area protection for the Quartz Lake Patrol Cabin, Quartz Lake Wilderness Campground, and a footbridge at the foot of Quartz Lake.

Glacier National Park has enacted a closure order for the areas, campgrounds, and trails within the Quartz Lake drainage from the Continental Divide to the Inside North Fork Road for the protection of park visitors, employees, and natural resources. This includes the Quartz Lake Loop trails starting from just south of Bowman Lake toward Quartz Lake, as well as the Quartz Lake and Lower Quartz Lake Wilderness Campgrounds.

Quartz Fire Closure Map, August 18, 2022
Quartz Fire Closure Map, August 18, 2022

Quartz Fire Area Closure in effect Aug 18

No more hiking the Quartz Lake Loop for a while. Here’s the text of the official press release . . .

AREA CLOSURE ORDER for the Quartz Fire

Quartz Fire Closure Map, August 18, 2022
Quartz Fire Closure Map, August 18, 2022

Effective at 1600, Thursday, August 18th, 2022, pursuant to 36 CFR 1.5 (a), the following acts are prohibited within Glacier National Park:

PROHIBITIONS:

All visitor use, use for research, concession use, commercial use authorizations, and special use permits are prohibited in the areas below. 36 CFR 1.5 (a)

AREA DESCRIBED: (See Map: QuartzFire2022_Closure dated 08/18/2022)

The areas, campgrounds, and trails within Quartz Lake drainage from the Continental Divide to the Inside North Fork Road.

The Quartz Lake Loop trails starting from just south of Bowman Lake towards Quartz Lake.

These areas are all within Glacier National Park.

PURPOSE:

The closure is in order to protect the safety of park visitors and employees, and for the protection of the park’s natural resources due to wildland fire activity caused by lightning.

IMPLEMENTATION:

      1. This Order shall be in effect at 1600 on Thursday, August 18th, 2022 and shall remain in effect until further notice.
      2. This Order supersedes, rescinds, and replaces any previous orders prohibiting the same acts covered by this order.
      3. Any violation of these prohibitions is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000.00 for individuals and/or imprisonment for not more than six (6) months.