Four Buildings at Old Faithful Catch Fire

Windblown embers from a 165,000-acre forest fire Wednesday ignited buildings inside the Old Faithful Geyser complex after hundreds of tourists had evacuated.

At least four buildings caught fire as embers from the North Fork fire rained down on firefighters wetting down roofs inside the complex. At least one structure, a shed containing a vehicle, was destroyed, officials said.

Wednesday’s evacuation was the first in the 116-year history of the oldest U.S. national park, ordered as the fire burned to within a half-mile of the park’s most popular attraction.

About 800 visitors calmly left the Old Faithful Inn, which park officials decided to close for the season more than a month early. Later, however, park officials decided to allow day visitors in the area.

Winds Expand Blaze

Earlier in the day, winds gusting to 40 m.p.h. expanded the North Fork fire by 20,000 acres, but a shift in the wind pushed the blaze near the outbuildings on the complex’s southern flank, forcing 40 firefighters to retreat.

“When that firestorm went through there, we had to move our people out of there,” incident commander Denny Bungarz said. “When you can feel the heat inside your car, it’s time to move.”

As a precaution against the falling sparks and embers, firefighters sprayed white foam on all structures, including the snack and photo shops and small cabins. They also laid irrigation hoses on the roof of the inn to discourage fire.

Fires in the greater Yellowstone area, which includes nearby national parks in Montana, have charred close to 1 million acres, spokeswoman Marsha Karle said.

Few Feet From Towns

On Yellowstone’s northern border, a river of fire flowed within feet of two small tourist towns, and firefighters hoped that winds would continue to shepherd the Storm Creek fire past Cooke City and Silver Gate, Mont.

Gusty winds fanned backfires lighted along a hillside north of the towns, creating a charred buffer zone in advance of the main body of the 119,000-acre fire.

Flames from the backfires roared past Silver Gate late Tuesday, coming within 200 yards of buildings along the community’s main street before continuing east Wednesday past Cooke City.

“Now, with the fuels burned out, at least on this side of the valley, there won’t be anything left to burn,” fire information officer Bill Stalker said.

Fire officials remained concerned, however, that winds could shift and drive the main portion of the fire into dry, unburned timber south of the canyon towns.

Pahashka Tepee in Danger

Elsewhere in the greater Yellowstone area, the 260,000-acre Clover Mist fire made a 10-mile run toward the east entrance of the park. Fire information officer Dave Damron said the blaze grew by 20,000 acres Tuesday night and endangered the Pahashka Tepee, which was Buffalo Bill Cody’s original hunting lodge.