Fire Closes Yellowstone Gate

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By Penny Preston

Story Published: Aug 12, 2007 at 11:00 PM MDT

Story Updated: Aug 13, 2007 at 7:16 AM MDT

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK - A 12,000 acre wildland fire in Yellowstone closed the Park's East Gate around four Sunday afternoon. Gusty south winds pushed the Columbine fire toward Sylvan Pass, just inside the park's east entrance.
Park officials say they're considering evacuating. The Columbine Fire is one of 4 in the southeast part of the park. The Promontory Fire and the Beaverdam Fire's weren't threatening structures Sunday. The Huckleberry Fire was discovered Saturday east of the South entrance of the park.
Firefighters started building a sprinkler system to protect the east gate Sunday afternoon. The public information officer for the Mullen, Northern Rockies Type 2 Mgmt Team, Terina Mullen told KULR 8, "They did drop some retardant from air tankers on Friday and Saturday, and those were used just to slow the spread of the fire. We are in critical need of helicopters. We are in critical need of crews. Those are being asked for all over the west right now because of fire activity."
The Columbine is the 3rd fire to close Yellowstone's East gate in 6 years. The Arthur Fire charred mountainsides on Sylvan Pass in 2001, the East Grizzly Fire charred a corridor near Yellowstone Lake in 2003.

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