Fire in Yellowstone 72 percent contained
Posted: Jul 21, 2010 7:46 AM
Updated: Jul 26, 2010 5:43 AM
(Photo courtesy of InciWeb.org)
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (AP) - More than 260 firefighters are making progress containing a blaze in Yellowstone National Park.
Fire information officer Gary Hoshide said late Sunday that the Beach fire, first reported July 18, had burned 540 acres or 8/10ths of a square mile. It was 72 percent contained and crews were mopping up on the north side of the fire.
They were also patrolling the north perimeter, and four helicopters were supporting suppression efforts.
The fire is the largest of five that have broken out in the park this season.
The cause of the blaze is not yet known, but Hoshide says most fires in the park are the result of lightning.
The Beach fire is burning about seven miles west of the Bridge Bay Campground.
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The 520-acre Beach Fire in Yellowstone National Park is 28 percent contained, according to the park.
The Beach Fire is the largest of five fires which have occurred this season in Yellowstone.
The fire was discovered Sunday morning by an aircraft conducting a research flight. It started in an area of subalpine fir, about two miles south of Beach Lake and seven miles west-southwest of the Bridge Bay Campground. The cause of the fire is still undetermined.
It is burning in the backcountry away from trails, campgrounds and lodging, the park said. No trails or backcountry campsites are impacted by the fire, according to the park.
On Thursday, hotshot crews and hand crews made progress on digging a fire line around the perimeter of the fire, according to the park. Five helicopters continued aerial support on the incident.
Today, crews plan to dig the line from the western to northern sides. Bucket drops will be made to cool any hot areas within and near the main fire perimeter.
