Glacier National Park wildfire forces tourists to leave cars

[sue4e3]

http://my.xfinity.com/articles/news-national/20150722/US-Western-Wildfires/


news-national-20150722-US-Western-Wildfires
Smoke rises from a wildfire near Townsend, Mont., Tuesday, July 21, 2015. T...
HELENA, Mont. (AP) — A fast-moving wildfire in Glacier National Park torched a car and a historic cabin and forced tourists to abandon their vehicles on the Montana park's most popular roadway while officials evacuated hotels, campgrounds and homes.

Visitors left their vehicles along the Going-to-the-Sun Road and were shuttled out by officials Tuesday, park spokeswoman Denise Germann said. The two-lane road that carries thousands of vehicles on peak days in July and August was shut down for 21 of its 50 miles.

One family from Missouri nearly found themselves trapped when they briefly stopped on the road to take video of the fire.

"It was smoldering and smoking just like a normal fire," Lakota Duncan told The Associated Press. "As soon as we started driving, it just exploded. That's the best I can say."

Duncan's father began driving at high speed as the flames drew closer, while Duncan yelled, "Go, Dad, Go," from the back seat and continued to record as they made their escape.

[Cleita]

1. Going to the Sun Road is one scary narrow road up a very steep mountain at the best

of times. I can't imagine what it would be like to run from a fire.

[Nailzberg]

2. Such a beautiful park. Hiked it first time just this March.

Still saw a lot of burn damage from previous fires. Over by Camas Creek entrance was nothing but sapplings, as far as you could see, eerie but amazing sight.

Anyway. Firefighter friend of mine just posted from Glacier. His crew arrived at the park tonight, and start in the morning. I hope they get it out quick.