Yellowstone’s Antelope Fire Now 60 Acres

A small late season fire in the Yellowstone backcountry was actively burning Thursday afternoon.

The Antelope Fire is located on the east slope of Mount Washburn and northeast of Dunraven Pass in the north central section of Yellowstone National park. The lightning ignited fire was discovered Tuesday afternoon burning in sage and grass in a drainage near Antelope Creek. Gusty winds Tuesday pushed the fire upslope into an area within the perimeter of the 1988 North Fork Fire. Wednesday morning firefighters used GPS units to map the perimeter at 22 acres. Light winds and higher humidity resulted in little fire activity and growth Wednesday. Drier, windier conditions prompted the fire activity to increase Thursday afternoon, especially on the north and northeast flanks of the fire perimeter.

The Antelope Fire is located in the backcountry well east of the road linking Canyon Village, Tower Fall, and Roosevelt Lodge. When actively burning, a smoke column may be visible from the road, and on the Mt. Washburn Fire Lookout Web cam http://www.nps.gov/yell/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm.

No roads, campgrounds, or trails are closed because of either fire. It poses no threat to visitors.

Like the Antelope Fire, most fires occurring in Yellowstone are caused by lightning. Yellowstone National Park is a fire adapted ecosystem. Fire plays an important role in maintaining the health of the area’s wildlife habitat and vegetation. Yellowstone National Park manages fires to protect people and property, enhance the area’s natural resources where appropriate, and safely and effectively use available firefighting resources. Firefighters have been assigned to the Antelope Fire to gather information on weather, fuel conditions, and fire behavior. This information is being used to determine the best approach to managing this fire.

A second small lightning caused fire reported Tuesday afternoon on the southeast slope of Mount Washburn is not producing any smoke, and is estimated at just one-tenth of an acre.

There have been 11 fires in Yellowstone National Park this year. The largest of the year was the Beach Fire southwest of Bridge Bay Campground, which was contained at 520 acres.