The Billings Gazette

CODY - The Gunbarrel fire grew only slightly Friday as relatively calm winds helped firefighters' efforts to check the eastern and southwestern advances of the blaze.

Fire managers did not release new figures on the total acreage of the fire burning between Cody and Yellowstone National Park because no nighttime infrared surveillance flight was made Thursday to measure the blaze.

"Where the fire has grown, if any, has been in the Robber's Roost Creek area," said Mary Rasmussen, a spokeswoman for the incident management team.

Rasmussen said fire crews had set up a spike camp in the relatively remote area, where they will perform burnouts to limit its spread.

"Those guys aren't coming back for the next couple of nights. Being able to get a few extra hours a day can make all the difference," she said.

Another group of firefighters will camp and eat at the Boy Scout camp at the western end of the North Fork Highway, she said, cutting down on travel time from the incident base at Buffalo Bill State Park.

Those crews will continue burnouts and mopping up operations around Goff Creek Lodge and Elephant Head Lodge, she said.

Rasmussen said dry, hot, windy days are expected this weekend, before a chance of precipitation Monday.

The blaze covers more than 92 square miles after being started by lightning on July 26.

About 570 people were assigned to the fire, including 12 fire crews and more than 150 support personnel.

Resources include eight helicopters, 30 engines and five water tenders.

More than $8 million has been spent fighting the blaze.

Call (866) 588-5206 for information on the Gunbarrel fire.