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June Fire just outside Yellowstone National Park continues to grow, with a spot fire flaring up on the northeastern perimeter.
According to Inciweb, crews, both on and off the ground, are working to contain the spot fire, dropping 51,000 gallons of water. Beyond that, most of the fire’s recent activity has been closer to its southeast flank i.e. away from Yellowstone but closer to Cody, Wyoming.
According to the Billings Gazette, the fire has closed down Elk Fork Campground and Trail as well as the Blackwater Memorial National Recreation Trail.
As of 7:05 a.m. MST, the fire measures 1,938 acres. Further, the fire is 28% contained, and crews report natural barriers to the south will stymie its spread in that direction. If the fire creeps any further north, however, it could close the highway—and therefore the East Entrance.
June Fire was first reported Tuesday, July 18 in Shoshone National Forest near June Creek. The fire is 13 miles from Yellowstone’s East entrance, about 30 miles from Cody, and one-and-a-half miles from U.S. Highway 14/16/20. According to Inciweb, beetle-killed timber and a plethora of dead/fallen trees is the main driver of the June Fire.
Crews expect June Fire to burn through September, barring any flare-ups or season-ending weather conditions. Yellowstone officials also announced crews could use water from Yellowstone Lake to fight the June Fire, but the offer was turned down.
