Fire cooking Howe Ridge again in Glacier Park

On Aug. 10, 2003 the Robert Fire burned down Howe Ridge in Glacier National Park in spectacular fashion.

Fifteen years and one day later, Howe Ridge was burning again after lightning sparked a fire on it Saturday night.

The fire, which does not have an estimated size currently, is burning nearly directly across the lake from Lake McDonald Lodge.

CL-215s aircraft, also known as “super scoopers” were dropping water on the fire as well as spot fires as it burned near the flanks of Mount Stanton.

Hundreds of people were gathered in the lawn of the lodge to watch the blaze. The DeSmet boat was still giving tours was booked through the afternoon and evening.

The fire has the potential to threaten private homes and residences in the Kelly Camp area along the lake, but no evacuations have been ordered as of Sunday afternoon.

The fire is primarily a ground fire, burning in downed, dead, timber and young “doghair” lodgepole pine and other trees that have grown back en masse in the 15 years since the Robert Fire.

Trails to the Trout Lake drainage are closed, as is the Numa Ridge Trail.

The Park has two other fires as well, it said in a release. The Heavens Sake Fire, below Heavens Peak, is visible from the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Rappellers were on order Sunday morning to take suppression action on that fire.

In the North Fork, a fire is burning near Numa Ridge and smokejumpers were ordered up to fight that blaze.

Dry lightning started several wildfires across northwest Montana on Saturday afternoon and evening. Grass and forest vegetation is extremely dry and minimal rain has fallen over the past five weeks. In addition, high temperatures and red flag conditions were present over the past few days, creating an environment favorable to ignition and fire growth.

West of Kalispell, the Bear Springs Fire is estimated at 18 acres and is located just southwest of Little Bitterroot Lake in Marion. Two CL-215 aircraft and a Type 2 helicopter from the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation worked for several hours to slow fire growth Saturday, and fire activity was quiet overnight, state Department of Resources and Conservation spokeswoman Ali Ulwelling said.

Fires are also being reported on the Flathead and Kootenai National Forests. On the Kootenai, the fire of most concern is the 10 mile fire, and residents living near it have been issued pre-evacuation notices.