Park Service slates public meeting on fire activity

The National Park Service will hold a community meeting in West Yellowstone tonight to discuss progress on the Maple and Tatanka Complex fires in the area.

The Tatanka, or Buffalo, fire complex is located about 3 miles northeast of Tower Junction and 3 miles south of the park boundary. It is visible from the Lamar Valley. The entire complex is estimated at 2,279 acres.

It is being managed under a combination of monitoring and protection strategies. The fire has not shown much activity, but fire activity and smoke could increase over the next 24 hours thanks to expected gusty winds, high temperatures, and lower humidity.

All roads and park visitor facilities leading into and through the park are open and not affected by the fires.

The Maple fire is located within the Tatanka complex. It is located in a large expanse of the 1988 North Fork fire scar, east of the park’s west boundary and 5 miles northeast of West Yellowstone.

The Maple fire is estimated at 22,448 acres.

Tonight’s public meeting is set for 6 p.m. at the Union Pacific Dining Room, 220 Yellowstone Avenue in West Yellowstone.