Single Publication

Muir Creek Fire Update
Monday July 29, 2024 12:00 p.m.

National Park Service
Glacier National Park
Mike West, Incident Commander; NW Montana Type 3 Incident Management Team

Fire Information Recording: 406-206-6099 / Media: 406-206-5272
Hours of Operation: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Muir Creek Fire remains at 30 acres

Current Situation: The Muir Creek Fire perimeter estimate remains at 30 acres. The local Type 3 Incident Management Team is preparing a strategy for confining the Muir Creek Fire to Glacier National Park, protecting structures and infrastructure, establishing communications, and planning for future fire suppression in the event that fire activity increases. Firefighter and public safety remain a priority. The fire is burning in very steep terrain with timber and heavy dead and down fuels, so potential remains for increased activity when humidity decreases, temperature increases, and winds align with topography.

Over the weekend, firefighters monitored the Muir Creek Fire from the ground and fire managers observed fire behavior from the air. Packers staged structure protection materials at NPS patrol cabins and the Scalplock fire lookout to be prepared if these structures require protection in the future. Rainfall, cooler temperatures, and higher humidity over the fire late last week tempered fire activity through the weekend. The fire still contains heat along its perimeter and has been minimally active.

Today, crews will monitor the fire and continue scouting locations to engage the fire that reduce exposure to firefighters and reduce risk to resources and assets inside and outside of the park. Fuel reduction is planned near Glacier National Park backcountry structures. Seven wildland firefighters are mobilizing from Saguaro National Park, AZ to assist with the incident. There are 94 uncontained large wildfires actively burning in the United States, which has severely limited available firefighting resources.

Weather: Monday’s forecast is for continued warm and dry weather. A cold front is expected to move through the area Monday evening with gusty southwest to west winds beginning Monday afternoon through Tuesday morning. The cold front could bring showers and thunderstorms. Much cooler and wetter conditions are predicted for Tuesday followed by warm and dry conditions returning into the weekend.

Closures: There is an Area Closure Order in place for the area northeast of the Fielding Trail, southeast of the Coal Creek Trail, and northwest of the Park Creek Trail to include Mount Saint Nicholas climbing routes and the Fielding Trail between Park Creek and Coal Creek. The Coal Creek and Park Creek Trails, as well as the Coal Creek and Park Creek Wilderness Campgrounds, remain open.

Fire Restrictions: Fire danger is currently Very High, which means that wildfires that start have a high potential for rapid growth. Please use care with campfires and ensure that they are dead out before leaving an area unattended. See https://www.mtfireinfo.org/ for up-to-date state-wide fire information. Managers throughout northwest Montana meet weekly to determine if additional fire restrictions are warranted.  

Smoke: The Muir Fire has not yet produced significant smoke impacts, but smoke from numerous fires throughout the western United States and in Canada have been affecting air quality across the western U.S. Smoke impacts from fires across the west are anticipated to continue. Current smoke information is available at https://fire.airnow.gov/.

Muir Fire Statistics:
Size:  Approximately 30 acres
Containment:  0%
Total Personnel:  25
Cause:  Lightning/Natural
Fire was detected:  Tuesday, July 23, 2024
Location:  20 miles southeast of West Glacier, MT and east of the Middle Fork of the Flathead River

Contact Information:
InciWeb:  https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/mtgnp-muir-creek-fire
Fire Information Office:  Recording: 406-206-6099 / Media Inquiries : 406-206-5272
Fire Information Email: 2024.muircreek@firenet.gov
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/GlacierNPS
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