Mandatory Evacuation Underway

"The Glacier County Sheriff's Office and Blackfeet law Enforcement are currently initiating mandatory evacuations on the west shore of St. Mary Lake. All residents of the west shore of St. Mary Lake are to evacuate immediately due to danger posed by the fire burning in Glacier National Park. The east shore of St. Mary Lake is advised to evacuate but it is not mandatory at this time. We will post information on further evacuations as the fire progresses."

1:02 pm - we have received word from the Glacier County Sherrif's office that a mandatory evacuation is underway from West of St. Mary to Babb. All residents should immediately evacuate. Deputies are going door-to-door.

1pm Wednesday:  Planning is underway for possible evacuation in the St. Mary area. National Park Service personnel are working in cooperation with Glacier County Sheriff’s Office and Blackfeet Emergency Management. 

Tuesday - A Type II Management team was being organized on Tuesday evening and resources from across the region were being brought in to battle a blaze that has “extreme spread potential.”

The fire was first reported by shuttle bus drivers at 3:45 p.m. near Grizzly Point, about 6 miles east of Logan Pass. The fire is currently burning in heavy timber.

This morning: Authorities in Montana's Glacier National Park are evacuating another campground because of a wildfire that has also forced the closure of a popular roadway into the park. National Park Service officials say that the entire eastern side of Going-to-the-Sun Road remains closed from the St. Mary's park entrance to 3 miles west of Logan Pass at the Big Bend pullout.

We'll bring you updates on the fire as they become available.