I was gone for about a week, looking BLM and Forest Service grazing allotments, and other things far better (congratulations on your marriage “BE”!).
In the meantime, a large fire broke out near Horse Butte, threatened many homes and structures and the town of West Yellowstone. That fire is now contained at close to 4000 acres. Story by the Associated Press.
Ralph Maughan
Dr. Ralph Maughan is professor emeritus of political science at Idaho State University. He was a Western Watersheds Project Board Member off and on for many years, and was also its President for several years. For a long time he produced Ralph Maughan's Wolf Report. He was a founder of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition. He and Jackie Johnson Maughan wrote three editions of "Hiking Idaho." He also wrote "Beyond the Tetons" and "Backpacking Wyoming's Teton and Washakie Wilderness." He created and is the administrator of The Wildlife News.
This fire was “contained” at 100% as of three hours ago though there is still a StageI/II restiction patchwork throughout the entire Gallatin NF.
http://www.inciweb.org/incident/maps/large/735/0/
Most evacuees are now returned to their lodgings.
Consequently, the fireworks display for the town of West Yellowstone have been cancelled, no fireworks of any kind are allowed at this time. Kind of a serious holiday atmosphere.