Glacier
National
Park

FIRE!

July 2002

Forest Fire - Blackfeet Indian Reservation, St. Mary, Montana

It had been a long day. We checked into the Snow Goose Lodge and were walking to dinner (quite good, I might add), when Elaine noticed a large black cloud to the east.

We inquired at the front desk, and were told it was a forest fire on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, about 4 miles to the east. Fortunately, it was quickly brought under control, although it did flare up again briefly, the next afternoon.
There were a number of factors in our favor. First, the fire was to our east and the prevailing winds are from the west, blowing the smoke away from us. We were separated by a sizable ridge, and the Blackfeet were quite able to bring the fire under control in a very short time. Close, but fortunately we did not have to evacuate.
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