Fire Near Yellowstone Doubles in Size, Now Over 4,000 Acres
A wildfire that was first reported Monday evening in northwest Wyoming has doubled in size and has now burned over 4,000 acres.
The Fishhawk Fire is located roughly 40 miles west of Cody, four miles south of Highway 14/16/20 and roughly five miles east of Yellowstone National Park in a wilderness area of the Shoshone National Forest.
Erratic winds spurred fire growth Monday, and the trend appeared to continue Tuesday.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Three trails in the area -- the Fishhawk Trail, Kitty Creek Trail and Blackwater Trail -- are closed to the public.
Fire managers said Tuesday their main focus is the safety of firefighters and the public. They will also work to protect buildings and other developments along the North Fork of the Shoshone River.
"Appropriate actions will be taken when it is needed and when it is safe to do so with the highest probability of success," said Mark Giacoletto, fire management officer for the Shoshone National Forest.
Giacoletto added that the amount of standing dead timber and hazardous terrain in the fire area makes it unsafe to insert firefighters near the current location of the blaze.
As of Monday night, additional ground and aerial resources had been requested to help fight the fire.
A public meeting for concerned residents is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Yellowstone Valley Inn near Wapiti.