Fire Forces Evacuations Near Idaho-Wyoming Border

ALPINE, Wyo. – A wildfire quickly grew to 400 acres and forced evacuation of several structures along the Idaho-Wyoming border Sunday.

The fire was about two miles southwest of Alpine in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest in Idaho and had destroyed a structure, the National Interagency Fire Center said.

An elite national firefighting team was ordered by Caribou-Targhee officials. As of Sunday morning, 89 firefighters were on the fire, along with 13 engines and one helicopter.

Another fire, about five miles north of Ashton, Idaho, was also at 400 acres. Both fires, on the west side of the Teton Range, were putting up large plumes of smoke visible from Grand Teton National Park.

"Both of those were under intense initial attack," Grand Teton spokeswoman Joan Anzelmo said.

Meanwhile, a fire discovered Saturday in the northeast corner of Grand Teton National Park was contained at seven acres that evening. It may have been smoldering since lightning storms moved through the area Wednesday, Anzelmo said.

Two helicopters with water buckets and five wildland engine crews quickly responded after smoke was spotted about noon. Still, the fire grew from three-quarters of an acre to seven acres before it was contained.

The fire was burning in Eynon Draw about five miles southeast of Moran. No structures were threatened.

Several small fires continued to burn in Yellowstone National Park. They were not a threat to any structures or attractions and were each less than a quarter-acre.