Old burn area is helping contain Yellowstone fire

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (AP) — Firefighters were using an old burn area to help contain a wildfire burning in 300-year-old lodgepole pine trees in the backcountry in Yellowstone National Park.

About 270 personnel were at the scene Saturday of the 520-acre wildfire burning near the center of the park, northwest of Yellowstone Lake. Firefighters were digging fire lines from the western and northern perimeters and mopping up hot spots on the south and southwest boundaries of the blaze. The fire remained 43 percent contained.

Fire information officer Gary Hoshide said a burn area from a fire last year is keeping the fire from spreading east.

The cause of the fire remained under investigation Saturday.