Fire destroys historic cabins in Glacier park
MISSOULA, Mont. -- At least nine homes and cabins in a historic district of Glacier National Park have been destroyed in a wildfire that raged through the Montana park's busiest area and prompted the hasty evacuation of hundreds of visitors.
Park officials said Tuesday that the lost buildings include the Big House at Kelly's Camp, a resort developed early last century serving auto travelers along Glacier's famous Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Glacier Conservancy executive director Doug Mitchell says it's a "gut punch" to lose some of the park's iconic buildings.
Firefighters managed to save several historic structures that caught fire. Among them was the Lake McDonald ranger station and the Wheeler Cabin, built by the family of former Montana U.S. Sen. Burton Wheeler.
The 4-square-mile fire is burning near other historic cabins and buildings around Lake McDonald.