Publication Date September 12, 2016 | Fire Engineering via AP

Revived wildfire closes Yellowstone park's south gate again

United States
In this Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016 photo, firefighters observe a wildfire's push to the northeast, after initiating sprinkler systems to protect structures around Headwaters Lodge at Flagg Ranch in Moran, Wyo. Photo: National Park Service
In this Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016 photo, firefighters observe a wildfire's push to the northeast, after initiating sprinkler systems to protect structures around Headwaters Lodge at Flagg Ranch in Moran, Wyo. Photo: National Park Service

A wildfire that roared back to life closed the south gate to Yellowstone National Park again Monday and forced employees to flee.

The same blaze shut down the entrance for nine days late last month. It had died down until winds picked up Sunday, taking firefighters by surprise.

That's when the fire grew by more than 9 square miles (23 square kilometers) and crossed a highway connecting Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks. Authorities closed the route between Lizard Creek Campground in Grand Teton and Lewis Lake in Yellowstone.

A handful of employees at a gas station and a convenience store and half a dozen people at a campground were evacuated from U.S. 89/191/287, fire information officer Traci Weaver said