Rating:

0.0 (0 votes)

Firefighters continue battling the largest fire in Yellowstone National Park this season, as the Antelope Fire now stands at 3200 acres and is 45% contained.

According to a park press release, unseasonably hot and dry conditions Tuesday resulted in significantly increased activity on the Antelope Fire. The fire spread from the southeast corner across the Yellowstone River, into an area of mature forest which is between the 1988 North Fork Fire and the 2002 Broad Fire. It produced a large column of smoke late Tuesday which was visible for several miles in all directions.

A Type 2 helicopter and additional firefighting resources are being called in to augment the Type 3 helicopter, 5 engines, and 30 firefighters currently assigned to the Antelope Fire. They will focus their efforts Wednesday on assessing the fire's growth potential, and on structure protection needs at Canyon Village, Tower/Roosevelt, and the Buffalo Ranch.

The Antelope Fire poses no threat to park visitors or area residents. No roads, lodging, campgrounds, or other visitor services are closed due to the fire. Many visitor facilities have closed for the season, or are scheduled to close for the season in the next few days. All park entrances remain open. The Specimen Ridge Trail, the Agate Creek Trail, and backcountry campsite 2Y1 are temporarily closed due to the fire.
.