Howe Ridge Fire grumbling above Rocky Point

The 11,000 acre Howe Ridge Fire in Glacier National Park late Tuesday evening was burning above Rocky Point, which is less than a mile from the Fish Creek campground.

Winds were from the southwest, but fairly light, as of about 6 p.m.

Apgar and surrounding areas are under an evacuation warning, but have not been evacuated. Eddie’s Cafe in Apgar has closed. The Village Inn remains open, as are other businesses.

While the fire is spewing smoke, the air quality was better than it has been.

Crews have been building fire line on the Inside North Fork Road and setting up sprinklers near the campground.

On the north end of the fire, the “rain for rent” sprinkler system is expected to arrive in the next day or so to protect Lake McDonald Lodge.

The heavy-duty sprinklers were used last year during the Sprague Fire near the lodge.

In the North Fork, the Whale Butte Fire, at about 338 acres saw beneficial rain on Monday — .34 inch.

Rainfall at West Glacier was far less, about .06 inch of rain. The Paola Ridge Fire near Essex also didn’t see much rain, though it hasn’t grown much either and is still about 364 acres.