News

It is a fire that apparently looks more impressive than it is, as the Antelope Fire is actually smaller than officials estimated late last night -- 3,998 acres, compared to the 4,370-acre figure supplied yesterday -- though an impressive plume seen over much of the northeastern part of Yellowstone National Park would seem to counter that assessment.

Fires go where there's fuel, and the Antelope Fire is no exception: After jumping the Yellowstone River, the fire found acreage untouched by recent forest fires and quickly expanded to 4,370 acres, though a new estimate expected this morning will probably boost that total significantly.

The Antelope Fire, once given up for dead by firefighters, has unexpectedly jumped the Yellowstone River and has made its way through mature forest, forcing the closure of several campgrounds and trails and causing Park officials to bring back the firefighters.

The Yellowstone National Park Antelope Fire is now 50 percent contained and will be allowed to burn itself out naturally, as firefighters recede to a monitoring role and the Grand Loop Road reopens between Tower Fall and Chittenden Road.

The growth of the Antelope Fire has slowed down dramatically and active burning is limited to its southeast corner. Despite that, the road between Tower and Chittenden Road will remain closed indefinitely.

The Antelope Fire is now estimated to be at 2,800 acres, but growth has stopped on the north edge -- near Tower Fall -- but smoke and traffic from fire-fighting equipment is causing officials to keep the road between Tower Fall and Chittenden Road (providing access to Mount Washburn) closed until further notice.

Cody and Wyoming officials have been fighting for years to maintain snowcoach service and snowmobile access from Yellowstone National Park's East Entrance, but the private market may end up being much more influential than any National Park Service bureaucrat.

Firefighters were optimistic they could open the Grand Loop Road today between Tower Fall and Chittenden Road, but smoke and weather conditions will continue its closure, at least through tomorrow.

The Yellowstone National Park Antelope Fire has been contained to the point near Tower Fall that the road between there and Chittenden Road will reopen tomorrow (Wednesday) at 8 a.m., closing at 10 p.m. because of concerns about smoke.

At the bottom of the Lamar Valley bison munch their late afternoon meal while a towering column of smoke rises over Specimen Ridge behind them. The bison don’t seem to worry about the fire (presumably). In any case, they won’t be running away until they see a fire approaching.