Yellowstone Park's Antelope Fire amping up

Posted 9/21/10

The fire was 5 percent contained Monday morning.

Firefighters had a containment line on the northwest flank of the fire, but that line was breached Sunday morning, said Traci Weaver, public information officer.

The road between Tower Fall and …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Yellowstone Park's Antelope Fire amping up

Posted

The Antelope Fire in Yellowstone had swelled to approximately 1,600 acres by Monday morning — 10 times larger than Friday's estimate of 150 acres.The lightning-ignited fire, reported Sept. 14, is burning southeast of Tower Fall and west of the Yellowstone River.

The fire was 5 percent contained Monday morning.

Firefighters had a containment line on the northwest flank of the fire, but that line was breached Sunday morning, said Traci Weaver, public information officer.

The road between Tower Fall and Canyon Junction was closed several times Sunday afternoon, then remained closed after 8 p.m. for public and firefighter safety.

The Tower store and campground were notified of a potential evacuation Sunday afternoon, but evacuation proved unnecessary, Weaver said.

The road from Canyon Junction to Chittenden Road was re-opened Monday morning, but the road from Tower Fall to Chittenden will remain closed until further notice, said a National Park Service news release.

Slurry bombers are dumping very near the closed road, Weaver said.

Eighty firefighters were on the scene Monday morning, with another 20-person hand crew scheduled to arrive that day, Weaver said.

There are two slurry bombers, two helicopters and 11 fire engines working the fire, she added.

“We're really hopeful for rain,” Weaver said.

However, Weaver said Monday it appeared any precipitation would fall north of the fire, and gusty winds were expected.

The terrain firefighters are facing is not too difficult, but they have to contend with a lot of down timber, Weaver said.

Efforts were made Monday to place a line between Antelope Creek — a few miles south of Tower Fall — and the road, Weaver said.

“Our primary objective is keeping it south out of Grand Loop Road and south of the Tower store,” Weaver said.

On Monday, firefighters were reinforcing the line on the northwest flank of the fire with the aid of aerial support dropping water and fire retardant. Structural firefighters and engines remained in the Tower Fall area, said the news release.

No park entrances, lodging, campgrounds or visitor facilities are closed due to the fire.

Road updates are available by calling 307-344-2117.

Comments