Boundary Wildfire

Waterton Lakes National Park

Wildfire quick facts

Location: Boundary Creek Valley, Glacier National Park (U.S.) and Waterton Lakes National Park

Size (approx): 1,100 hectares

On August 23, 2018, a wildfire was observed south of Waterton Lakes National Park in the Boundary Creek Valley, west of Upper Waterton Lake in Glacier National Park, MT. Fire behaviour increased due to dry and windy conditions in the days following. The wildfire burned across the U.S.-Canada border and into Waterton Lakes National Park on September 7.

August 23 - 24

August 23.
August 23: The Boundary Wildfire exhibited extreme behaviour. Flame heights up to 200 feet were reported.
August 23: A smoke column rises from the Boundary Wildfire in Glacier National Park, USA. From the time it was spotted, the wildfire exhibited extreme behaviour, growing from 20 to 700 hectares in roughly four hours.
August 23: A nighttime view of the Boundary Wildfire.
August 23.
August 23.
August 24: The wildfire was active along its perimeter, with ground fire and occasional torching. The wildfire remained in the Boundary Valley in Glacier National Park, without significant growth.

August 25 - 26

August 25: Smokey conditions in the Boundary Valley hampered air operations.
August 25: Parks Canada fire managers met with the U.S. National Park Service and the Southwest Area Type 1 Incident Management Team in Goat Haunt, MT to discuss fire activity and coordinated response plans.
August 25: Except for a small spot fire, the wildfire remained on the south side of Boundary Creek.
August 25: The wildfire exhibited moderately active fire behaviour and moved slightly north and east.
August 26: A Parks Canada helicopter transports water to a hot spot on the north side of Boundary Creek.
August 26.
August 26: Parks Canada Fire Management Officer Scott Murphy, surveys the result of burnout operations.
August 26: Burnout operations resulted in creeping surface fire and intermittent torching of individual and clumps of trees in the fire guard.
August 26: Parks Canada Fire Technician Ryan Peruniak photographs the burnout operation.
August 26: The wildfire remained on the south side of the international border. Approximately 32 mm of rain fell on the wildfire in the following 24 hours, suppressing fire behaviour.

September 7 - 12

September 7: The Boundary Wildfire burned across the U.S.-Canada border and into Waterton Lakes National Park for the first time. The fire burned with extreme intensity.
September 8: Two spot fires burned ahead of the east perimeter. Parks Canada used three helicopters to bucket water, holding the fire at an avalanche path.
September 8: Parks Canada's initial attack crews prepare pumps, hoses and portable water tanks.
September 8: Three Parks Canada helicopters and one U.S. heavy helicopter suppressed fire activity along the eastern perimeter of the wildfire, limiting further growth throughout the day, despite windy conditions.
September 8: In the Boundary Valley, an active surface fire with isolated torching of tree groups was observed.
September 9: Parks Canada fire crews work on the north side of Boundary Creek.
September 9: The U.S. Northern Rockies Type 1 Incident Management Team used a heavy helicopter when wind conditions permitted.
September 9: Parks Canada fire crews extinguished hot spots on the north side of Boundary Creek.
September 11: Parks Canada fire crews work on the Boundary Creek wildfire.
September 11: Parks Canada fire crews continued to extinguish hot spots.
September 12: U.S. and Parks Canada fire crew members at the international boundary.

Map

Carte du feu de forêt de Boundary : 14 septembre 2018 

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