Weather concerns prompt Glacier National Park evacuations
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KPAX News
GLACIER NATIONAL PARK — The Sprague fire has forced officials to order everyone to leave parts of Glacier National Park.
An evacuation order is now in place for all residents and visitors from the south end of Lake McDonald to Logan Pass. This includes the Lake McDonald Lodge, concession housing, Kelly Camp Area, and the Avalanche and Sprague Creek Campgrounds.
The Going-to-the-Sun Road is closed from the south end of Lake McDonald to Logan Pass. Park officials say that Apgar remains open as well as Logan Pass, which is now accessible only from the St. Mary side of the park.
An evacuation warning had gone into effect Sunday morning but was quickly replace by an evacuation order.
“The current evacuation area includes the Lake McDonald Lodge area, the Sprague Creek campground, the Avalanche Campground and there are approximately 55 residences at that end, those are private residences at that end of Lake McDonald and all of those land owners are being notified in person by rangers who are going door-to-door,” Fire Information Officer Diane Sine said.
The Sprague Fire Incident Management Team made the recommendation to order evacuations in preparation for forecasted high east winds, which could increase activity on the west side of the Sprague Fire.
“Our current forecast and the wind shift that is currently being predicted by the National Weather Service has the potential to move the fire in the direction of Lake McDonald,” Sine said Sunday, “Our particular concern right now is that the weather forecast is indicating that we could get a wind shift tonight that could move the fire in a westerly direction.”
Visitors should take all of their belongings with them as it is unknown when the area will be safe to return.
Park officials note that once residents and visitors leave, they will not be allowed in the closed area until it is deemed safe again. Law enforcement officers will be patrolling the closed area to provide security.
The American Red Cross of Montana will open a shelter at 5 p.m. Sunday at Canyon Elementary School in Hungry Horse in response to the wildfire evacuations. The shelter will be located at 200 North Street in Hungry Horse.
All evacuees are welcome at the shelter, and all Red Cross services are free.
Remember the Five Ps of Immediate Evacuation:
People and Pets (and other livestock too)
Papers (important documents)
Prescriptions (medications, eyeglasses, hearing aids, etc.)
Pictures (and other irreplaceable memories)
Personal computer (e.g., information on hard drives and disks)
The following Lake McDonald area concessions operations are currently closed:
Lake McDonald Lodge and Cabins
Glacier Park Boat Company tours (boat tours from Lake McDonald Lodge and Swan Mountain Outfitters.
All interpretive programs in the Lake McDonald area are canceled until further notices.