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Yellowstone National Park's largest fire of the year, dubbed the Antelope Fire, has grown to an estimated 1,600 acres and is 5% contained.

Gusty winds, low humidity, and warm temperatures caused the fire, located by the Mount Washburn Fire Lookout, to become very active and grow significantly on Sunday. By midday the fire moved across a fire line that had been built on the north flank of the fire, the park said in a news release. An air tanker, several additional engines and more firefighters were brought in to help stop the fire from spreading.

In a press release, park officials said: The Tower General Store and Tower Fall Campground were put on pre-evacuation notice as a precaution late Sunday afternoon. A section of road between Tower Fall and Canyon experienced several temporary closures due to firefighting efforts, and was closed for the night at 8:00 p.m. By evening, the fire was halted at one quarter mile from a section of the Grand Loop Road south of Tower Fall. Three engines and crews remained on the fire overnight to reinforce the new control line. They observed active fire behavior overnight. Monday morning, the fire was estimated at 1600 acres.

The road from Canyon to Chittenden Road is scheduled to reopen to visitors as of 11 a.m. The road between Chittenden Road and Tower Fall will remain temporarily closed to visitors until further notice. No park entrances are closed. No lodging, campgrounds, or other visitor facilities are closed.

The Antelope Fire was discovered Tuesday afternoon, September 14, by the Mount Washburn Fire Lookout. A lightning strike started the fire in an area of sage and grass on the northeast slope of Mount Washburn, between Antelope Creek and the Yellowstone River. Winds have pushed the fire upslope to the north and east into an area of Lodgepole pine in an area burned by the North Fork Fire in 1988.
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