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Yellowstone Fire Grows to 500 Acres

By Beacon Staff

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. – Nearly 170 firefighters are battling a 500-acre wildfire burning in the backcountry near the center of Yellowstone National Park.

Firefighters are building control lines around the west and southern edges of the fire on Wednesday. More warm and dry conditions are expected, with wind gusts possible in the afternoon.

Gusty winds were a factor Tuesday. The fire grew as small spot fires kept igniting standing trees as well as downed logs.

Officials don’t know yet how the fire started.

A separate fire discovered Tuesday near the Slough Creek Campground in the northeast corner of the park was quickly contained.

Also in western Wyoming, fire managers have elevated the fire danger to “high” for Grand Teton National Park and the Bridger-Teton National Forest.