A blazing wildfire at Glacier National Park in Montana continues to scorch the national park several days after it began.
According to the Grand Forks Herald , a 4,000-acre wildfire at the Glacier National Park that began Tuesday afternoon has forced hundreds to flee from the raging inferno. The cause of the fire is still unknown.
On Thursday, half a dozen helicopters and over 100 firefighters were sent to handle the Glacier National Park wildfire, yet were unable to contain it. Wind gusts fueled the fire a day earlier, doubling the area of the blaze.
The Associated Press reports that much of Glacier National Park remains unaffected by the blaze and is still open to the public. Only six of the park’s 1,718 square miles have been burned so far. In addition to the natural areas that were scorched, the damages that have been sustained include the old Baring Creek Cabin and an abandoned car. Over a third of the major scenic Going-to-the-Sun Road has been closed. Drivers who were on the road earlier abandoned their vehicles to run for safety.
The Associated Press spoke with one family who were nearly trapped when they stopped along the road to record a shocking video of the Glacier National Park wildfire.
“As soon as we started driving, it just exploded,” Lakota Duncan said, describing the incident.
The video footage was later uploaded onto YouTube.
Fighting the fire may prove to be even more difficult in the coming days as wind gusts and low humidity, all part of a recipe that facilitates the spread of wildfire, are expected to pass over the area.
“These conditions may create explosive fire growth potential,” Glacier National Park spokesperson Denise Germann said.
Glacier National Park posted an alert on its website , listing the following “closures due to wildland fire.”
“The Going-to-the-Sun Road from Big Bend to St. Mary, Logan Pass and Logan Pass Visitor Center, Rising Sun Campground and all Rising Sun facilities, St. Mary Campground & Visitor Center, and The Highline Trail from Granite Park Chalet to Logan Pass.”
Images posted by the Instagram account of Glaciers National Park show the size and magnitude of the blazing inferno and the smoke rising from it.
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The Glacier National Park wildfire coincides with another inferno that has torched thousands of acres near California’s Napa Valley , according to NBC News .
No expectations have been made on when the Glaciers National Park fire will be contained.
[Photo by Jennifer DeMonte/Getty Images]
