Date: August 31, 2007
Contact: Al Nash, 307-344-2010
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Yellowstone National Park
P.O. Box 168
Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 31, 2007 07-84
Al Nash or Stacy Vallie (307) 344-2010 or 344-2012
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YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK NEWS RELEASE
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Smoke From Yellowstone Fires Increases With Warmer Weather
Recent warmer, drier weather has led to increased activity on fires burning in Yellowstone National Park, resulting in increased smoke some afternoons.
Forty firefighters remain assigned to the Columbine Fire. They’re working on line construction and mopping up in the Canfield Creek drainage, patrolling for spot fires, and continuing to protect structures along the North Fork Road outside the park. The fire is estimated at 18,510 acres and is 17 percent contained. Updates are available on the web at http://inciweb.org/incident/920/ or by phone at 307-344-2580.
The Promontory Complex covers about 1,600 acres of a large peninsula at the south end of Yellowstone Lake. Active burning along the west side of the fire has been observed.
Smoke has also been seen on the perimeter of the Beaverdam Fire, which is east of the southeast arm of Yellowstone Lake and south of the Columbine Fire. It remains estimated at 1,300 acres.
The Lookout Fire is located about a mile and a half southwest of Heart Lake. The lightning-caused fire was discovered Sunday afternoon and is estimated at three acres in size.
The Promontory, Beaverdam and Lookout fires are all being actively managed as a Wildland Fires Used for Resource Benefit, since they pose no threat to people or property.
Light rain is reported across portions of Yellowstone National Park this morning. The weather forecast calls for a chance of isolated showers and thunderstorms through the Labor Day holiday weekend.
Large fires burning in Idaho and Western Montana are responsible for most of the smoky haze occasionally visible over portions of Yellowstone National Park.
None of the fires in the park pose a threat to visitors. All park entrances and roads are open to the public.
All camping, lodging, restaurants, stores, service stations, and visitor centers inside the park are open. Updated Yellowstone National Park road information is available 24 hours a day by calling 307-344-2117.
The Specimen Creek trail has reopened. All backcountry campsites on The Promontory and campsite WE1 in the northwest corner of the park are temporarily closed. Updated information is available at all of the park’s Backcountry Offices or by calling 307-344-2160 during business hours.
Yellowstone National Park aggressively works to suppress all human-caused fires and any naturally occurring fires when they threaten people or developed areas.
Yellowstone averages twenty-two lightning caused fires a year. Sixteen of the twenty-two fires which have occurred in the park this year have been started by lightning.
- www.nps.gov/yell -
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