Tag Archives: fire

With the Fourth of July approaching, Yellowstone National Park wishes to remind visitors that fireworks are not allowed in the Park.

Lightning has started another fire in Yellowstone National Park this season.

Three Yellowstone fires continue to grow in size during dry weather conditions, but services are not impacted, and no temporary road closures are imminent.

The Snake Fire, caused by lightning earlier this week about three miles east of the Yellowstone National Park South Entrance, has failed to spread in the wake of wet weather, leading to the opening of several backcountry trails.

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.