The Howe Ridge fire, photographed earlier Sunday, forced the evacuation of the Lake McDonald complex Sunday night/NPS

Gusting winds and dry forest conditions sped the growth of a wildfire in Glacier National Park late Sunday, prompting the evacuation of the Lake McDonald Complex as well as the Avalanche Creek Campground.

Glacier, located in northern Montana against the Canadian border, had largely avoided this summer's wildfire season until a series of lightning strikes late Saturday ignited a series of fires. One of those blazes, the Howe Ridge Fire northwest of Lake McDonald, blew up Sunday evening.

Park officials ordered the evacuation of all businesses and private residences within the Lake McDonald Lodge complex, including the historic Lake McDonald Lodge, Sunday night. Visitors and employees were notified of the need to evacuate at around 9 p.m. local time. The Going-to-the-Sun Road was closed from Lake McDonald Lodge to Logan Pass. The Avalanche Creek Campground and residences along North Lake McDonald Road were notified of the need to evacuate at around 8 p.m. Sunday.

The structures threatened by the fire were at the north end of Lake McDonald. Firefighters and firefighting resources were on the scene Sunday night. The south end of Lake McDonald, including the Grist Road and Apgar Village, were not under evacuation.

The fire was one of several started Saturday night by lightning strikes. Earlier Sunday the Howe Fire was easily observed from the Going-to-the-Sun Road and the Lake McDonald area. CL-215 (Canadian “superscooper”) airplanes flew for four hours Sunday, dropping water from Lake McDonald, but this was not effective in stopping fire growth, park officials said. The planes were then redirected to other fires outside of the park. Firefighters attempted to hike to the fire, but were not immediately able to attack the fire due to active fire behavior and concerns for firefighter safety.

The Heavens Sake Fire was ignited below Heavens Peak, and a fire was reported near Numa Ridge in the park.