![]() ![]() By August 31, the fire had spread to over 2,000 acres (810 ha) but officials were confident that the highly trained firefighting personnel and fire mitigation strategies would continue to protect the structures of Sperry Chalet. Though the fire was 2 mi (3.2 km) from the lodge complex, heavy smoke had been settling in during the evenings and lingering into the mornings, reaching the "uppermost limit of hazardous". This was done to protect the health of their employees as well as guests. On August 30, Xanterra Parks and Resorts, the concessionaire that manages many park lodges and food establishments throughout the U.S., decided to close the Lake McDonald Lodge and surrounding food and retail facilities for the season due to hazardous smoke conditions. Sprinkler operations were also installed near footbridges on trails. However, smoke was becoming a factor with hazardous smoke levels being recorded at the facilities in and near the Lake McDonald Lodge area. By August 28, the fire has spread to over 1,500 acres (610 ha) and firefighters continued to reduce fuel loads in potential burn areas and to protect and monitor conditions near Sperry Chalet. The fire assessment was that the sparse vegetation and somewhat cooler temperatures would help firefighters protect structures and that Sperry Chalet was not in imminent danger. Nearly 100 firefighters had been assigned to the fire protecting structures such as Sperry Chalet with a portable pond and sprinklers and had the support of one helicopter performing water drops on hot spots. By August 21, Sprague Fire had spread to encompass 1,183 acres (479 ha) and was burning in a sparse vegetation zone on Lincoln Ridge. It was part of the Great Northern Railway Buildings that have been listed as a National Historic Landmark.īy August 18 the fire had spread to 519 acres (210 ha) on Mount Brown and firefighters had installed an irrigation system and hose lay in the Sperry Chalet area and wrapped the historic Mount Brown Fire Lookout tower with protective fire resistant material. The Sperry Chalet was built in 1913 by workers employed by the Great Northern Railway and is listed as on the National Register of Historic Places. ![]() Burning along the Gunsight Trail, the primary trail access to the Sperry Chalet, a historic backcountry lodging facility only accessible by trail, the fire forced the closing of the chalet, though the structure was not threatened at that time. Initially reported on Augon the north side of Sprague Creek, 9 mi (14 km) northeast of West Glacier, Montana, by August 15, 2017, the fire was estimated to be 100 acres (40 ha) in size and situated in steep terrain. It nearly destroyed the historic Sperry Chalet. It was first reported on Augaround 8:30pm after it was caused by a lightning storm. ![]() The Sprague Fire was a wildfire in Glacier National Park in the U.S. ![]()
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