Fog May Help Montana Firefighters
WEST GLACIER, Mont. (AP) - Thick fog and high humidity blanketed the nation's largest wildfire Thursday morning, giving new hope to firefighters that the blaze's end may be in sight. But in California, a new fire forced evacuations near Yosemite.
``This high humidity is doing us more good than the rain did,'' said Bob McKinney, a fire information officer. ``I've got a feeling the grass won't even burn today.''
The blaze covered 64,000 acres including more than 14,000 in Glacier National Park. Firefighters got their first shot of relief Wednesday, when rain slowed the fire's pace through thick forest and brush.
``God's smiling down on us,'' a relieved Bill Paxton said Wednesday as he and other fire officials watched the rain from a fire camp in Columbia Falls, near the park.
Lower temperatures and humidity levels of 45 percent brought even more relief Thursday.
Glacier officials said tourism in the park remains strong, despite the fires.
Across the West, the National Interagency Fire Center reported 12 major fires burning on more than 203,000 acres. But the center said eight major fires were contained Wednesday.
Several of the remainder were nearing containment, and lower temperatures and rain were expected in several Western states.
In California, however, a 1,000-acre wildfire burning west of Yosemite National Park forced evacuations from eight communities Thursday and threatened the water supply to four towns.
The Darby fire, which broke out Wednesday afternoon, was burning heavy brush and timber. About 250 homes were evacuated and two more areas were put on alert. At least 60 people spent the night at a nearby elementary school.
``It was a 4 in the morning, grab-the-dog-and-go type of thing,'' said Ken Osborne, principal of Albert Michelson Elementary School in Murphys, Calif.
On the Net:
National Interagency Fire Center: http://www.nifc.gov
Glacier National Park: http://www.nps.gov/glac/resources/fires-2001/fires.htm
Originally published September 06, 2001.
