home is okay. expecting to go to stage II any day, VERY strong winds on tuesday and already this morning! Very concerning! Here's the latest report.

Summary

Yesterday crews continued to reinforce fire lines on the north, east and west portions of the fire and burn out to fortify those lines. The south side of the fire remains open. The fire escaped control lines on the northeast corner near S. Fork Medicine Creek south of East Glacier Monday afternoon about 4:00 and made a 2 mile run to the east-northeast, crossing BIA Hwy 2, and finally ending up out in the grasslands. Crews burned out firelines late into the evening. No structures were lost, and no evacuations took place. Evacuation levels remain unchanged from yesterday.

The Forest Rangers quickly rounded up cattle and horses that were out in front of the fire and took them to safer pastures. The fire also made a short run to the south towards Mt. Baldy and ended up stalling in the rocky crags. The fire did not reach Badger Cabin. There are stronger winds from the southwest forecast for today and the next few days, which is concerning. Those winds will be a good test for the firelines. Today crews will concentrate on the area near Glacier View subdivision trying to keep the fire away from structures, and continue to build and reinforce firelines around the east, west, and north lines.

There will be a public meeting at East Glacier Lodge Tuesday night at 7:30. Washington State team 3 is timing out and will be transferring management of the fire to Pacific Northwest team 3 who will take over management of the fire on Wednesday. The new incident commander, Jeff Pendleton, will be introduced, and there will be an update on the fire.

There are stronger winds from the southwest forecast for Tuesday and several days after which is concerning. Badger cabin, which is an USFS cabin in the Badger Creek tributary south of the fire, has been wrapped with fire resistant foil. The fire is now 19 miles long. The most easterly reach of the fire is to the Deep Creek drainage on the Blackfeet Reservation, and to Mule Ridge to the west near Skyland Road. Base camp is located south of Hwy 2, just south of Skyland Road.

U.S. Hwy 2 is open, but there is a speed restriction in the fire area.

There is no change in evacuation levels. The different levels of evacuation are described as: Level 1 is the lowest level, and is notification that there is a possibility of an evacuation. Level 2 is notification that there is a possibility of an evacuation and take steps to be ready to evacuate if need be. Level 3 is notification to evacuate.

Level 3 None Level 2 The area north of BIA2 between the South Fork Two Medicine River and BIA 1 to the Two Medicine River. The area west of the South Fork Two Medicine River south of BIA 2 and south of U.S. Hwy 2 to Marias Pass. Level 1 That area east of BIA 1 north of Heart Butte to Browning. That area north of the junction of BIA 2 and U.S. Hwy 2, north to and including East Glacier.