Boundary Wildfire

Waterton Lakes National Park

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, U.S. On September 7, 2018, fire behaviour increased due to dry and windy conditions and the wildfire burned across the U.S.–Canada border and into Waterton Lakes National Park.

Map

Wildfire quick facts

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

Size (approx): 1,100 hectares

map of boundary wildfire

September 7 - 12

U.S and Parks Canada fire crew members at the international boundary, working on the Boundary Creek wildfire, September 12, 2018.
Parks Canada’s fire crew working on the Boundary Creek wildfire, September 11, 2018.
Parks Canada’s fire crew extinguishing a hot spot.
Parks Canada fire crew working on north side of Boundary Creek, September 9, 2018.
Parks Canada fire crew working on north side of Boundary Creek, September 9, 2018.
The Boundary Valley around 14:00 on Sept. 8, 2018. Active surface fire with isolated torching of groups of trees was observed throughout the day.
Parks Canada’s initial attack crew prepares pumps, hoses and portable water tanks on Sept. 8, 2018.
Three Parks Canada helicopters and one U.S. heavy helicopter suppressed fire activity on hot spots along the eastern perimeter of the wildfire and limited further fire growth throughout the day, despite the windy conditions.
On Sept. 7, 2018, the Boundary Wildfire burned across the U.S. – Canada border and into Waterton Lakes National Park for the first time since it started. The fire burned with extreme intensity that afternoon.
Two spot fires burning ahead of the east perimeter of the Boundary Wildfire as seen at 8 am on Saturday, September 8, 2018. Parks Canada has 3 helicopters bucketing water to hold the fire at this avalanche path.
The U.S. Northern Rockies Type 1 Incident Management Team is using heavy helicopter on the Boundary Wildfire when wind permits.

August 25 - 26

Smokey conditions in the Boundary Valley hampered air operations yesterday (August 25, 2018).
Parks Canada fire managers met with counterparts from the U.S. National Park Service and the Southwest Area Type 1 Incident Management Team in Goat Haunt, Montana yesterday afternoon (August 25, 2018) to discuss fire activity and coordinate a response.
Except for a small spot fire, the Boundary Wildfire remains on the south side of the creek. This photo was taken yesterday evening (August 25, 2018). As of 10 am this morning (August 26, 2018), a Parks Canada helicopter is bucketing water on this spot fire to hold it at Boundary Creek.
The Boundary Wildfire exhibited moderately active fire behaviour yesterday evening (August 25, 2018) and moved slightly to the north and east.
As of 10 am on August 26, a Parks Canada helicopter is bucketing water on this spot fire to hold it at Boundary Creek.
This morning, a Parks Canada helicopter bucketed water on a hot spot on the north side of Boundary Creek.
Parks Canada’s Fire Management Officer, Scott Murphy, surveys the result of burnout operations on the Boundary Wildfire.
Burnout operations earlier this afternoon resulted in creeping surface fire and intermittent torching of individual and clumps of trees in the fire guard.
Parks Canada’s Fire Technician, Ryan Peruniak, documents the result of a burnout operation.
The Boundary Wildfire remains on the south side of the international border. This photo was taken on the evening of August 26, 2018. About 32 mm of rain fell on the wildfire that night and the next morning, suppressing fire behaviour.
August 23, 2018 - A smoke column rises from the Boundary Wildfire yesterday evening in Glacier National Park, USA. From the time it was spotted, the wildfire exhibited extreme behaviour, growing from 20 to 700 hectares in roughly 4 hours.
August 24, 2018; 8:30 am - This photo shows the wildfire along Boundary Creek in Glacier National Park, USA. The wildfire was active along its perimeter, with ground fire and occasional torching but it has not grown significantly today and remains in the valley.
August 23, 2018.
August 23, 2018.

August 23 - 24

August 23, 2018.
August 23, 2018 - The Boundary Wildfire exhibiting extreme behaviour yesterday evening. Flame heights up to 200 feet were reported.
August 23, 2018 - A night-time view of the Boundary Wildfire.

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