Single Publication

Glacier National Park Fire Update
Friday, September 9

National Park Service
Glacier National Park Incident Commander: G. Bartin, Type 3 Incident Commander
Fire Information Email: glac_fire_line@nps.gov 
Fire Information Recording: 406-206-6099 
Fire Information Office: 406-206-5272 (8 am to 4:30 pm) 

Fire activity continues at slower rate with weather change

Current Situation: A backdoor cold front Thursday brought a wind shift out of the northeast with cool and moist air slowing but not extinguishing activity on both the Quartz and North Camas Fires.

The Quartz Fire continued to show activity and perimeter growth along the southwest edge as observed by ground personnel and both Glacier National Park and Flathead National Forest lookouts on Wednesday and Thursday. Group tree torching and intermittent uphill runs were visible as the fire continues to consume dead and down heavy fuels. The Quartz Fire is estimated to be 1981 acres as of Friday morning. A squad remains staged at the Quartz Lake Cabin reinforcing structure protection and patrolling the Quartz Fire throughout the weekend.

The North Camas Fire continues to put up intermittent smoke and slowly spread along a steep slope above Camas Creek.  A portion of the fire has been visible from The Loop area of Going-to-the-Sun Road. The North Camas Fire is burning in very steep, inaccessible terrain and is estimated at 20 acres. The fire is not currently threatening any structures, park resources, nor the public.

The Flat Mineral Fire, located in the Flattop Mountain area above Mineral Creek in Glacier National Park showed activity Tuesday night with one isolated area of heat. It remains at 0.1 acre.  

A new wildland fire was reported in the Coal Creek drainage in the southern section of Glacier National Park on Wednesday afternoon. Immediate suppression actions were taken on the Coal Creek Fire due to its proximity to the historic Coal Creek Patrol Cabin. A Forest Service helicopter assisted with water drops and Glacier National Park firefighters hiked in to suppress the fire on the ground. The fire was estimated at 1.25 acres. The Coal Creek Fire is 100% contained as of Thursday evening.

Weather: The National Weather Service forecasts cool and damp conditions for Friday with drier and more seasonal temperatures expected beginning Saturday.

Closures: Glacier National Park has enacted a Closure Order for the areas, campgrounds, and trails within the Quartz Lake drainage. This includes the Quartz Lake Loop trails. A second Closure Order has been added for the Upper Camas drainage above Arrow Lake. Maps of the closures are available on InciWeb. 

Fire Restrictions: The fire danger rating in Glacier National Park is currently very high. Park visitors are reminded that campfires are allowed only in designated fire rings or grates and should be kept small. Never leave a fire unattended and drown any campfire with water until cold to the touch before leaving it.

Air Quality: Air quality and smoke conditions can be monitored at https://fire.airnow.gov/. Visibility in different parts of Glacier National Park can vary from hour to hour, depending on fire and wind conditions both locally and throughout the west. Check the park’s webcams at https://www.nps.gov/glac/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm.

Quartz Fire Statistics:
Size: Approximately 1981 acres
Total Personnel: 20
Start Date: Sunday, August 14, 2022
Containment: 0%
Cause: Lightning
Location: 25 miles north of West Glacier

North Camas Fire Statistics:
Size: Approximately 20 acres
Total Personnel: Managed by Quartz Fire IMT
Start Date: Sunday, September 4, 2022
Containment: 0%
Cause: Lightning
Location: 16 miles north of West Glacier