800 Flee Fire in Yellowstone

Rangers evacuated about 800 tourists and employees from a second major Yellowstone National Park hotel and campground complex today as a forest fire approached within two miles of it.

Park spokeswoman Michelle Rotter said the Park Service took the precaution as the “North Fork fire,” which has been burning across extremely dry timberland since July 22, grew to 96,700 acres. Rangers closed the Canyon Village area, which includes lodging, campgrounds, a restaurant, a service station and a gift shop. She said the hotel had been scheduled to close for the season Aug. 29 anyway and would not be reopened.