Highway and railroad reopen, Sheep Fire at 500 acres

U.S. 2 along the southern edge of Glacier National Park reopened to traffic Saturday morning as did the BNSF Railway line through the Middle Fork Corridor.

The highway and railroad had been closed since Thursday afternoon because of fire danger.

Pilot cars will escort traffic on U.S. 2 between mile markers 177 and 185. Vehicles are not allowed to stop or park in this section and the speed limit has been reduced to 35 mph.

Amtrak passenger trains were also running on Saturday.

Public Information Officer Gregg DeNitto said trains were being allowed to run as early as Friday night.

The highway and railroad had been closed since Thursday afternoon because of the Sheep Fire, which remains at 581 acres and is burning about 2.5 miles south of Essex in the Great Bear Wilderness of Flathead National Forest.