Smoke from the Thompson Fire in Glacier National Park billows above the Continental Divide/NPS

With rugged, remote terrain limiting firefighting efforts to aerial water drops, the Thompson Fire in Glacier National Park has expanded to nearly 15,000 acres, with more growth expected.

The fire is burning deep in the south-central backcountry of the park, and is not a threat to the Going-to-the-Sun Road. However, two backcountry patrol cabins are at risk, and the fire has prompted closure of the Nyack and Cole Creek area, including trails and backcountry campsites and the section of trail from Nyack Creek to Cutbank Pass.

Dry vegetation coupled with high temperatures and low humidity have led to what fire bosses are calling "extreme fire behavior" as the flames feed on heavy stands of timber. Smoke plumes have been visible from many locations on both sides of the Continental Divide.

The high fire danger has led Glacier officials to ban backcountry campfires, though front-country campers can have campfires in designated areas.

A locator map pinpoints the Thompson and Reynolds Creek wildfires in Glacier National Park, and outlines areas closed due to firefighting efforts/NPS