Fire Science Active Burning

  • August 31, 2001 - 6:26 PM (17 days post discovery)

    Glacier National Park Region - Moose Fire

    The Moose Fire was discovered August 14, 2001 in the Moose Creek Drainage of Flathead National Forest. Suspected lightning caused, it burned west to east, across the North Fork of the Flathead River and into Glacier National Park, eventually reaching a perimeter size of over 67,000 acres. It remains the single largest fire in the greater Glacier area since 1929.

    Photos are from about 2 miles south of Columbia Falls, MT, looking north. The distance from the viewpoint is approximately 17 miles. When not obscured by smoke, Huckleberry Mountain in Glacier National Park is visible in the farthest distance center to right.

    All images courtesy of Carl Key, USGS.

    There are 7 images in this gallery

    Last updated: Thu, 10/23/2008 - 15:07

  • July 24, 2003 - 02:21 PM (less than 24 hours after starting)

    Glacier National Park Region - Robert Fire

    The Robert Fire was human caused at 4:45 PM on July 23, 2003, about 8 miles north of Columbia Falls, MT. Eventually adjoining the 2001 Moose Burn to the north, it burned north and east through Flathead National Forest and in time crossed the North Fork of the Flathead River into Glacier National Park. It threatened but did not enter the town site and Park facilities at West Glacier and Apgar, reaching a final perimeter size of 54,000 acres.

    A rerun of 2001, photos are from the same location as those for the Moose Fire, about 11 miles from the fire. The Robert fire was closer to Columbia Falls, however, and between the viewpoint and Huckleberry Mountain.

    All images courtesy of Carl Key, USGS.

    There are 13 images in this gallery

    Last updated: Thu, 10/23/2008 - 15:21

  • Smoke from Robert Fire along the Middle Fork. 07/30/2003 01:16 PM

    Glacier National Park Region - Others

    Other 2003 fires burned over 280,000 acres in the greater Glacier region, including nearby southwest British Columbia and southeast Alberta. Among them, Wolf Gun and Trapper fires burned at high elevations central to the park, and the Middle Fork Complex was along the south border. At 15,000, 19,000 and 12,000 perimeter acres, respectively, all were started by lightning and remained interior to the Park.

    All images courtesy of Carl Key, USGS.

    There are 5 images in this gallery

    Last updated: Thu, 10/23/2008 - 15:26

  • Aerial of Blackjack Lake Fire, 6/2001.

    Okefenokee NWR, Georgia - Blackjack Lake Fire

    All images courtesy of Okefenokee NWR Fire Management.

    There are 4 images in this gallery

    Last updated: Mon, 05/04/2009 - 11:37