Montana, California wildfires moving quickly

A wildfire driven by gusting winds swept down Glacier National Park’s most popular roadway toward a small community at the park’s eastern entrance, while a fast- moving Northern California blaze threatened 200 homes and ranches.

The fire burning in the droughtparched Montana park doubled in size Wednesday, leading officials to evacuate homes along St. Mary Lake and visitors to flee hotels and campgrounds in the nearby community at Glacier’s eastern entrance.

The National Weather Service on Thursday warned that 30- 40 km/ h wind gusts and low humidity could cause the wildfire to quickly spread.

The scenic Going- to- the- Sun Road, which is the main alpine roadway that bisects the park, was closed for 30 of its 80 kilometres. Park officials shuttled visitors to safety and scoured the backcountry for hikers in the fire zone.

To the west, a fast- moving wildfire covered more than 15 square kilometres of countryside near Northern California’s Lake Berryessa by Thursday morning.

The fire is five per cent contained and is threatening some 200 homes and rural ranches. The communities of Quail Ridge and Golden Bear and two campgrounds are under evacuation orders.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said there was no immediate word on the total number of evacuees.