(GREAT FALLS) Justin Bilton and his 70-year old father were backpacking through Wyoming and Montana, and last weekend set up camp in Glacier National Park. The next day, they realized that a lightning strike had started a small fire, which eventually turned into the 3,500-acre Howe Ridge Fire along Lake McDonald.
The fire began to explode around them, and Bilton and his father jumped into their rental car, trying to escape, but were trapped by the flames.
Bilton said on Facebook: "We hiked back to the car to get out where it was parked at the end of a dead end road. We had just driven this road (safely) 3 hours before to get in and it was our only way out, apart from trying to stay ahead of the fire on foot. After we were stopped by the downed tree, we reversed back through all of this and were rescued by two park employees on a boat. They saved our lives."
The two people on the boat were Jess Kimball, a tour boat captain on Lake McDonald, and an intern ranger at Apgar named Dave.
Justin continued: "When my dad decided he was going to get out to move the burning tree I was most scared because I didn’t think I could stop the stubborn old man! He’s def cool under pressure. We were camped down a trail that continued from the end of a dead end road and the fire was between us and the only way out. Had to reverse all the way back through all that to get back to the trailhead and down to the lake. The car burned shortly after we abandoned it and got rescued by a boat that just happened to be there."
We will update you if we get more details.
As of Saturday, the lightning-sparked Howe Ridge Fire has burned about 3,500 acres; for perspective, the park encompasses more than one million acres. The fire has destroyed numerous private homes and structures, but there have been no reported injuries.
- AUGUST 12: Growing wildfire triggers evacuations in part of Glacier National Park
- AUGUST 13: Howe Ridge Fire in Glacier National Park has burned more than 1,500 acres
- AUGUST 14: Glacier National Park remains open despite fires
- AUGUST 15: Howe Ridge Fire in Glacier National Park (UPDATE)
- AUGUST 16: Glacier National Park remains open; fire is affecting only a small area
- BACKGROUND: Wildland firefighting terms: what do they mean?
Evacuations: Evacuation orders remain in place for the North Lake McDonald road (private residences and the Lake McDonald Ranger Station), Lake McDonald Lodge area (all businesses, employees, and private residences), private residences along the Going-to-the-Sun Road, and Sprague Creek & Avalanche Campgrounds.
Road and Trail Closures: The Going-to-the-Sun Road remains open between St. Mary and Logan Pass. It is closed between the foot of Lake McDonald (near Apgar) and Logan Pass. The Inside North Fork road is closed and multiple trail closures are associated with this fire. Please see full trail closures on the park’s website: www.nps.gov/glac.
Fire Restrictions: Glacier National Park and most of western Montana are under Stage II Fire Restrictions. No campfires will be permitted in Glacier’s frontcountry or backcountry. Smoking is also prohibited except within an enclosed building, vehicle, developed recreation area, or barren area three feet in diameter. Propane stoves that have an on/off switch are permitted.
The best source for current information on the status of Glacier National Park is the official park website (click here), or the Fire Information Hotline that has been established by the Park at 406-888-7077.
FAST FACTS ABOUT GLACIER NATIONAL PARK
Water
Number of named lakes: 131
Number of unnamed lakes: 631
Total number of lakes: 762
Acres of named lakes: 25,622
Land
Acreage: 1,012,837
Square miles: 1,583
Miles of exterior boundary: 205
Acres of defacto wilderness: 963,155…or 1,489.3 sq. miles
Elevation at Logan Pass: 6,646 feet
Number of mountains: 175
Highest mountain: 10,448 ft…Mt. Cleveland
Facilities
Number Class A campgrounds: 8, with 943 sites
Number Class B campgrounds: 5, with 61 sites
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