Wildfire near Glacier Rim

Firefighting crews from across the valley responded to a wildfire near the Glacier Rim Fishing Access site off the North Fork Road Saturday afternoon.

The fire appeared to have started near an old gravel pit on Forest Service land west of the road. The cause was not immediately determined. The fire was about 15 acres in size and was burning in downed timber in the old Robert Fire burn of 2003.

A smaller spot fire was burning on what appeared to be the east side of the road. Crews were also hitting spot fires in Glacier National Park.

Flathead County brought in heavy equipment to put a line around the fire and at least two helicopters were dropping water on the blaze.

The North Fork Road is closed to vehicle traffic in the fire area. Floating traffic on the river was closed as well, as helicopters are taking water from the river.

A nearby homeowner was evacuating as a precaution.

Temperatures at the time of the fire were brutally hot, reaching 97 degrees.

The high priority is to keep the fire on the Forest Service side of the river, according to Flathead National Forest Public Affairs Officer Ema Braunberger.

There's no relief in sight for the weather. Temperatures could reach 101 tomorrow.