Spreading Fire Activity Forces Only Partial Closures at Glacier National Park

August 12, 2003

Spreading Fire Activity Forces Only Partial Closures at Glacier National Park
Despite reports that Glacier National Park is closed to the public, 55 to 60 percent of the area remains open for business. A portion of the park was re-evacuated yesterday due to wildfire activity.

According to NTA member officials from the park, smoke from the wildfire at the park forced officials to temporarily re-evacuate campers, residents, tourists and workers at Lake McDonald Lodge and all campgrounds except Apgar. The Going-to-the-Sun Road, a popular road through the park, also was closed temporarily yesterday. However, the Sun Road remains open from St. Mary to Logan Pass for a distance of 18 miles. A total of 350 miles of hiking trails are still open for visitors.

NTA member and executive director of the Glacier County Regional Tourism Commission Linda Anderson is stressing that the eastern half of the park has never been closed. "It is open, it’s alive and there is very little fire damage visible," she said. "Only a small percentage of the park has truly been affected."

The wildfires at Glacier National Park have been threatening the area since July, burning 36,600 acres.