The Yellowstone National Park is a protected ecosystem under the care of the National Parks Services. Heavy smoke and falling trees forced a closure between Yellowstone’s south entrance and the Lizard Creek Campground on U.S. Highway 89. The fire had died down until winds picked up Sunday, taking firefighters by surprise.
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Snow and rain have allowed Yellowstone National Park officials to lower the fire danger in the park. Firefighters sprayed water on the resort buildings to protect them Sunday.
The fire has burned more than 32 square miles (83 square kilometers) of woodland in and around the highway. There was also assistance sent to help evacuations at Flagg Ranch.
Starting at Noon Tuesday visitors will be able to use fire inside the park under normal park rules.
Recent precipitation has moderated fire danger throughout the park, prompting officials to lift fire restrictions, even though the fire danger remains high.
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Open fires are permitted only in designated fire rings, grills, barbecues, or grates in the 11 developed campgrounds and some backcountry campsites. The weather made for minimal fire activity on five blazes burning inside the park, including the 45,000-acre Maple Fire outside West Yellowstone, Mont. Self-contained gas and charcoal grills are permitted.
