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Yellowstone National Park officials report 5 additional fire starts in the park yesterday, all lightning-caused. Very little moisture was received yesterday, so fuels are extremely dry. Initial attack has been very successful in the suppression of the park's many small fires. Park staff and a 20-person initial attack crew will be assisted by helicopter bucket drops on the active fires today. A helicopter base and fire camp has been established at Fishing Bridge. None of the fires in the park are currently threatening roads or structures, and all roads, park entrances and facilities remain open. Following is further information on Yellowstone's wildland fires:
The following fires were started by lightning on August 11:
Butte Fire: This .1 acre fire is located on the northeast corner of Yellowstone Lake. It was contained yesterday afternoon by firefighters on the ground and helicopter bucket drops.
Twisted Fire: This small fire is located along the south boundary of the park. It will be staffed with firefighters again today.
Falls Fire: This fire in the south part of the park could not be located again after the initial report.
Crooked Fire: Located west of Two Ocean Plateau in the southeast corner of the park, this small fire will have crews on it today assisted by bucket drops.
Grizzly Fire: This fire has been burning since it was started by a lightning strike on August 2. Due to more accurate mapping, it is now estimated at 45 acres. It will be actively suppressed today, mainly from helicopter bucket drops.
Yellowstone Fire Management policy requires that all human-caused fires be suppressed but that natural fires be allowed to burn as long as they do not threaten people, property or resource values. Before any wildland fire is allowed to burn, however, it must be carefully evaluated and meet an inventory of pre-established criteria (including current and forecasted weather and wind conditions, fuel moisture levels, site location data, and sufficient resources).
If all criteria are not met on a daily basis, the fire must be reassessed to determine whether it will still be allowed to burn or if it must be immediately suppressed. With the current dry conditions in the park and the lack of significant moisture, each new fire start is being carefully evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine whether the appropriate management action will be to suppress or allow new fire starts to burn.
Today's weather forecast is calling for partly cloudy conditions with isolated rain showers and thunderstorms. High temperatures will be in the upper 80s, with relative humidity around 18 - 20 percent. Winds are expected to be out of the south at 15mph, with ridge top winds out of the south at 20 - 25 mph. The long term forecast calls for partly cloudy skies with a chance of showers and thunderstorms, and highs in the upper 70s and lower 80s.
There have been a total of 50 fires during the 2003 fire season - 5 human caused and 45 lightning caused.
Fire restrictions went into effect on July 18. Under the restrictions, the following are prohibited: 1) backcountry campfires - lighting, building, maintaining, attending or using a campfire, wood fire, charcoal fire or open fire is prohibited in the backcountry; and 2) smoking - smoking is only permitted within an enclosed vehicle or building (unless otherwise prohibited), a developed campground site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable
materials (i.e. parking lots, campsite cooking areas or if surrounded by water). In developed areas in the park, fires are only allowed in designated fire rings at developed campgrounds. Fires fueled by liquid fuel and LPG fuel are permitted only if used in self-contained appliances.
East Fire: This fire grew rapidly yesterday afternoon, burning in beetle-killed whitebark pine and spruce-fir forest. A rough estimate of its size is at least 200 acres. It is located in the upper Cub Creek drainage north of the East Entrance Road. Due to rough terrain and safety concerns, only two monitors will initially be on the ground on this fire. Helicopter bucket drops will work to confine the fire to certain natural geographic barriers.
Following is information on other significant fires:
Frank Fire: Most of the acreage of Frank Island has now burned, and this fire will be less active today. The size is over 600 acres.
Approximately 20 other small fires remain in active status in the park (not officially declared out). These fires are contained or controlled and in patrol status.
Information provided by the NPS
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