EBS STAFF
A spot fire ignited on the evening of Aug. 16 in the Bridger Range between North Cottonwood and Johnson canyons, was spotted by witnesses at the Gallatin Speedway in Belgrade shortly after a lightning storm passed through. With rainfall on the way, Custer Gallatin National Forest announced in a Facebook post that they would wait until morning to send crews out when it would be easier to locate.
By the morning of Aug. 17, six West Yellowstone Smokejumpers arrived on scene to the Cottonwood Fire and had it fully contained at 1/10th of an acre by the afternoon. The fire’s cause was determined to be lightning.
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