Tag Archives: Yellowstone

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.

There's no admission fee to Yellowstone National Park this Saturday in honor of National Public Lands Day, so come out and gawk at the bison and the Antelope Fire after volunteering on the Snow Pass and Howard Eaton trails.

The Yellowstone National Park Antelope Fire is now estimated to be 2,199 acres, but it appears to have stalled near Tower and is now moving south by southwest, toward Mount Washburn again.

Well, so much for the experts: winds, warm temperatures and low humidity combined to fuel the growth of the Yellowstone National Park Antelope Fire to 1,600 acres as it crossed a containment line and forced the closure of the road from Tower Fall to Canyon.

The remote Antelope Fire in Yellowstone National Park  is now at 60 acres, but geography, weather and a location near a previously burned-out area will probably prevent it from growing too much more, say officials.