Glacier Park fire likely was human caused

The National Park Service said Wednesday that initial evidence suggests that the Reynolds Creek Fire in Glacier National Park was caused by human actions.

Park spokeswoman Denise Germann said she could not share what that evidence is, only that “it suggests it was caused by human actions.”

Lightning is the most common cause of wildfires. People can cause fires with campfires, cigarettes and vehicles.

NPS is asking park visitors who were hiking in the area of Reynolds Creek on the Gunsight Pass Trail or staying in or hiking through the Reynolds Creek Backcountry Campground from July 14 to July 21 to call 888-653-0009 or email nps_isb@nps.gov.

Visitors may believe they didn’t see anything, but specific questions could spur their memory, Germann said.

The government could seek both punitive and restitution penalties for response and restoration costs associated with the fire, Germann said. That could be accomplished with criminal or civil penalties.

The fire was first reported at approximately 3:45 p.m. on Tuesday, July 21, approximately six miles east of Logan Pass. To date, it has burned approximately 3,200 acres.

The cost of fighting the Reynolds Creek Fire in Glacier National Park has reached $5.1 million, and it’s now burned two structures.

“Whenever you have aircraft your costs go up real fast, so those things are expensive,” fire information officer Mike Cole said Wednesday morning. “But we have been able to use them effectively. We have this giant water resource called St. Mary Lake.”

Two structures have been lost, the latest an old homestead along St. Mary Lake that was constructed prior to the creation of the park, Cole said. Previously, a historic patrol cabin near Baring Falls burned.

The Going-to-the-Sun Road opened up to Logan Pass today on the west side, giving visitors access to one of the park’s most popular destinations. The road remains closed on the east side from just beyond the St. Mary Campground to Logan pass.

The fire is 56 percent contained, but firefighters are bracing for increased fire activity today.

A red flag warning, meaning conditions are conducive to fire growth, has been issued for the fire area today because of expected lower relative humidity and higher temperatures, and unburned areas have the potential to be active today, the fire team said.

Crews will continue to build hand line around the northeast edge of the fire, the fire team said.

There are now 670 personnel including eight inter-agency hot shot crews and eight 20-person hand crews assigned to the fire, in addition to 23 engines and seven helicopters.

Reach Tribune Staff Writer Karl Puckett at 406-750-5383. Twitter: GFTrib_KPuckett.