Crews Fight Boundary Fire As Buffalo Complex Grows

Crews continue to fight the Boundary Fire as the Buffalo Complex continues to grow.

According to a Yellowstone press release, the Boundary Fire is now 50 percent contained, as 91 personnel work to keep the fire from spreading. It is still 192 acres as of writing.

Today, firefighters will continue with mop-up operations on the edge of Boundary Fire before progressing deeper into the conflagration. Crews will pay special attention to “islands” of unburned fuel to ensure they don’t ignite and give Boundary Fire more power to spread.

The Buffalo Complex (Fawn, Maple, Buffalo, Thumb, and Grayling 2 Fires), meanwhile, continues to burn. While both Thumb (1.1 acre) and Grayling 2 (0.5 acres) have been 100 percent contained, the other three have grown overnight,

Maple Fire, for instance, has grown to 14,763 acres. We previously reported that Maple Fire was burning on 13,995 acres. Overnight, the fire continued to move south toward the West Entrance Road. Although the road is still open, Park staff are urging people to drive with caution, slowing down and turning on their headlights when they encounter smoke.

In addition, crews are monitoring Maple Fire closely to ensure that it doesn’t stoke growth in nearby Boundary Fire.

Buffalo Fire, meanwhile, has grown to 2,205 acres, while Fawn Fire grew to 1,055 acres.

Stage 1 Fire Restrictions are still in place for Yellowstone National Park. Below is the full list of trail and campsite closures, including closures in Custer Gallatin National Forest and new ones prompted by the growth of Buffalo Fire:

Custer Gallatin National Forest

• From the intersection of Highway 191 and Duck Creek Road #2523 (south side of the road), to Yellowstone National Park boundary, including the fishing access road at the end of Duck Creek road, south along YNP line to the north side of the Madison River bluff, then north along east side of Highway 191 back to the starting point, excluding the transfer station and road #6794

Campsites

• WA1

• WB1

• WB3

• WB4

• WB6

• 251

• 252

• 253

• 254

• 256

• 257

• 258

Trails

• Buffalo Fork Trail from the trailhead at Slough Creek to the Park Boundary.

• Gneiss Creek Trail from the Gneiss Creek Trailhead (WK7) to Seven Mile Bridge Trailhead (WK8).

• Bighorn Pass trail eastbound at the junction of the cut-off trail to the Fawn Pass trail.

• Bighorn Pass trail westbound at Bighorn Pass.

• Fawn Pass trail eastbound at the junction of the cut-off trail to the Big Horn Pass trail.

• Fawn Pass trail westbound at campsite 1F2.

• The cut-off trail between Bighorn and Fawn Pass trails is open.

Currently, all Yellowstone roads and visitor facilities, both NPS- and concessionaire-operated, are still open. Gateway community business are also open at this time.

About Sean Reichard

Sean Reichard is the editor of Yellowstone Insider and author of Yellowstone Insider For Families 2017.

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