Maple Fire Grows Overnight In Yellowstone To 14,000 Acres

Maple Fire has grown overnight, as crews continue to fight Boundary Fire and the Buffalo Complex in Yellowstone National Park.

The Buffalo Complex consists of five fires: Fawn, Maple, Buffalo, Thumb, and the Grayling 2 fires. The Boundary Fire, burning four miles north of West Yellowstone, is being managed separately of the Buffalo Complex.

According to a Yellowstone press release, Maple Fire has grown to 13,995 acres. We previously reported that Maple was burning on 12,199 acres. In addition, Maple is burning further south, and is now within three-fourths-of-a-mile of the West Entrance Road. Although the West Entrance Road is still open to vehicle traffic, smoke from the Maple Fire may impact visibility and impede drives. Drivers are encouraged to slow down and use their headlights.

There is no substantial growth in either Buffalo or Fawn Fire.

We previously reported that Grayling 2 fire, discovered in the Grayling Creek area, had been discovered by firefighters watching from Mount Holmes; a lightning bolt struck a tree in the area, causing it to ignite. Crews immediately called in a water drop via helicopter. Thumb Fire, meanwhile, was immediately suppressed since it was burning five miles from Old Faithful and West Thumb Junction.

There is no news on whether either fire is completely out, although Inciweb no longer lists Thumb Fire as active.

The Boundary Fire, meanwhile, is still burning on 192 acres. According to a Yellowstone press release, a crew of 80 is at work, including 10 smokejumpers, one engine, one hotshot crew, two type-2 initial attack crews, one dozer, two fixed wing aircraft and one helicopter. According to Park officials, the cause is under investigation.

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 adjoining Custer Gallatin National Forest:

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

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 open.