The Latest: Wyoming wildfire near Yellowstone grows
The Latest on wildfires in the U.S. West (all times local):
11 a.m.
CASPER, Wyo. — Park officials say a fire in Wyoming near Yellowstone National Park has grown to 5 square miles.
The national park said in a statement Wednesday that hard frosts at night have killed plants and trees, which will aid the fire’s growth.
The so-called Lone Star Fire started on Aug. 22. Officials say it is expected to be contained by Oct. 30.
Firefighters are cutting down trees and heavy vegetation in the area to protect power lines, historic buildings and communication equipment.
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10:25 a.m.
SPOKANE, Wash. — The parents of a 1-year-old boy who died in a northern Washington state wildfire remained in critical condition Thursday in a Seattle hospital.
Okanogan County Sheriff Tony Hawley said the boy died after his family was apparently overrun by flames while trying to flee the giant Cold Springs Fire this week.
It was the state’s first death of this wildfire season.
Gov. Jay Inslee said Thursday that he and his wife were heartbroken to hear about the child’s death.
Hawly said the family from the Seattle suburb of Renton was discovered by searchers Wednesday morning along the banks of the Columbia River. He said all were badly burned and the child was dead.
Hawley said the parents Jacob Hyland, 31, and Jamie Hyland, 26, were flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for treatment of third-degree burns.
The hospital listed them in critical condition and in intensive care on Thursday. According to a GoFundMe page set up for the family, Jamie Hyland is pregnant.
