Fire closes key road in Yellowstone

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK – Officials in Yellowstone National Park have closed a key road in the south part of the park due to a 2.5-square-mile fire burning near Yellowstone Lake.

Park spokeswoman Stacy Vallie said the Grand Loop Road between Fishing Bridge and West Thumb was closed early Saturday afternoon for safety reasons.

But she said park visitors coming from the south will still be able to reach Old Faithful.

Four helicopters, one airplane and 80 firefighters are fighting the lightning-caused Arnica fire that briefly closed the same road for a few hours on Friday.

Vallie said water drops are being made on the fire.

She said warm fall weather has drawn more visitors to the park but also increased the fire danger.