The Associated Press
 AP Photo/The Daily Chronicle, Erik Petersen Firefighters work to put out hot spots, Tuesday. |
BIG TIMBER, Mont. — A wildfire north of Yellowstone National Park burned more than 20,000 acres and destroyed three homes, numerous outbuildings and a highway bridge before snowfall subdued it early Tuesday, an emergency management official said.
“Right now we’re getting heavy snow, so that’s pretty neat,” said Kerry O’Connell, Sweet Grass County’s disaster and emergency services coordinator.
The fire was reported Sunday afternoon in the foothills of the Crazy Mountains, about 75 miles north of Yellowstone and about halfway between Billings and Helena. Accelerated by winds gusting to 80 mph, it advanced quickly Monday night across more than 31 square miles of ranchland.
Residents of 15 homes evacuated, said Marna Daley, a Gallatin National Forest information officer. The blaze took out a bridge on U.S. Highway 191, closing the north-south route.
Despite the snow, heavy timbers were still burning Tuesday in creek bottoms, O’Connell said.