Dangerously hot and dry conditions in southeastern Wyoming spurred growth of the Broadway Fire, now at 154 acres in size -- twice as large as the 75 acre-burn area reported Sunday.

The fire was started by lightning on Aug. 14 in Carbon County, roughly 10 miles south of Encampment.

According to a Monday morning news release from fire managers, firefighters including a hot shot crew were at the fire scouting and preparing to create a landing area for helicopters. Aerial operations are the only way to fight this fire, as it is burning in dense beetle-killed timber.

"You just aren't to be able firefighters going in for that type of direct attack operation," says John Abernathy, public information officer for the fire. "That's where we've definitely been using helicopters for bucket drops when needed."

"There is some benefit to burning that bug-killed timber," Abernathy adds. "So they're kind of keeping it in check, if you will. They want to keep it west of one of the main roads there."

Abernathy says the fire has been moving east, away from Forest Road 496.

The Beaver Creek Fire management team is also overseeing the Broadway Fire. A Sunday news release emphasized that critical fire weather was expected to persist throughout Monday.

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