Arnica Fire in Yellowstone National Park Surpass 9,000 Acres in Size, Travel Pinched

Travel through Yellowstone National Park was greatly reduced Monday due to a fire on one side of the park and road construction on the other. NPS graphic.

A predicted storm can't reach Yellowstone National Park fast enough to blunt a wildfire that as of noon Monday had reached 9,300 acres in size and had forced the closure of the road between West Thumb and just south of the Lake developed area.

That fire closure, coupled with road construction that has closed another section of the Grand Loop Road between Madison Junction and Norris, means getting around the park is tougher than ever. Park officials are suggesting that visitors stop at Yellowstone visitor centers or chambers of commerce outside the park for help in negotiating Yellowstone at this time, but these two events make it impossible to fully navigate the upper half of the road at this time.

Lake Hotel, Lake Lodge, and all other facilities in that developed area are accessible from the North, Northeast, and East Entrances. The Old Faithful area is accessible from the South and West Entrances.

The latest from the park regarding the Arnica Fire is that the blaze, which was sparked by lightning and is burning on the west side of Yellowstone Lake through a mature lodgepole pine forest, is now estimated at 9,300 acres. The road between the junctions at Fishing Bridge and West Thumb remains closed indefinitely due to fire actively burning along 1.5 miles of the road, and an undetermined number of hazardous snags falling across the road, according to a park release. Snag removal will take place when conditions are safe for firefighters. The road was to remain closed throughout the day Monday and into the night, park officials said.

Smoky conditions were expected to affect air quality into Tuesday, park officials said. Individuals with weakened immune systems and those with heart and lung conditions could be most affected, they added.

The Elephant Back and Natural Bridge Trails have been closed due to fire activity in these areas. No facilities have closed at this time due to fire activity with the exception of the launching of private water craft from the Bridge Bay Marina. Water craft can still be launched from Grant Village.

Monday's forecast called for high temperatures in the low 60s with southwesterly winds up to 12 miles per hour, with higher gusts. A storm is expected to bring rain and perhaps snow to the park Tuesday.