BECKY BOHRER
Associated Press Writer
WEST GLACIER, Mont. (AP) -- Fire commanders grounded their air attack and pulled firefighters from the front lines Monday as strong, gusty winds proved to be too dangerous and erratic in the fight against a blaze at Glacier National Park.
In southwestern Montana, a firefighter was killed by a falling tree.
Fire information officer Bob McKinney said the wind gusts of up to 40 mph made fighting the West Glacier fire too dangerous for ground crews and pilots. More than 1,000 firefighters were battling the blaze, which had grown to more than 50,000 acres.
``The winds are incredibly strong right now. It would be homicide trying to put a fire crew in front of that thing,'' McKinney said.
About a dozen people in a small, wooded development west of the park were ordered to evacuate Monday as a precaution when high winds pushed flames toward the homes, barns and a small store.
Despite the blaze, lodges and other attractions within the park were still bustling Monday. Mark McDevitt, general manager of the Lake McDonald Lodge, said the facility was booked solid Monday night.
``It's a great photo op,'' he said of the fire. ``And people are taking advantage of it.''
Favorable weather over the weekend helped crews gain some ground on the blaze. Although still considered only 5 percent contained, officials said northeast winds pushed flames away from buildings and homes that had been in danger along Lake McDonald.
The lightning-sparked blaze began Aug. 14 near Whitefish. It doubled in size Friday and spread across the western border of Glacier National Park. It pushed east toward Lake McDonald, home to a number of park lodges, campgrounds and private properties.
Firefighters spent much of the Labor Day weekend helping area homeowners clear brush and other debris from their property. Crews working around the north end of Lake McDonald set up water pumps, hoses and sprinklers to protect cabins along the lake.
Jeff Whitney, a deputy incident commander, estimated about 80 buildings around the lake, many of them in densely wooded areas, remained threatened by the fire.
A Bitterroot National Forest firefighter died Monday after being struck by a falling tree while battling a 5-acre fire in southwestern Montana near the Idaho state line. The 24-year-old man's name was not released.
Firefighters were gaining the upper hand on two other fires north of Yellowstone National Park in south-central Montana.
At one of the fires, between the park and the town of Livingston, crews used explosives to blast 1,500 feet of containment lines in the most-rugged terrain. The 26,500-acre fire was considered 45 percent contained Monday.
South of Livingston, off-duty firefighters held a brief memorial service honoring three men who died Friday when their helicopter crashed north of Yellowstone National Park.
``It could be you or me that we're having this service for,'' said Warren Hiebert, chaplain for the Gallatin County sheriff's department.
A more than 800-acre fire near Yellowstone's north entrance was contained Monday evening.
At least 18 major fires still active Monday had burned about 150,000 acres in other Western states, according to the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho. The center said crews were close to containing most of the largest fires.
Funeral Arrangements:
The memorial service for Dave Rendek will be 2:00pm, Friday, September 7, at
the (new) Hamilton High School in Hamilton, Montana.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Dave’s
name to their favorite charity.
Cards and letters should be sent to:
Dave Rendek family, c/o Mark and Linda Bennett
200 Blodgett Camp Road
Hamilton, MT 59840.
Rodd Richardson, Bitterroot National Forest Supervisor said, "We invite the
community to join us in remembering Dave and his dedication to the
firefighting service. This is a very sad time, but I know that the
fellowship of Dave’s friends will help begin the healing process for Dave’s
family."
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