Date: July 26, 2006
Contact: Nash, (307) 344-2010
Contact: Vallie, (307) 344-2012
Morning clouds and early afternoon thunderstorms with light rain on Tuesday resulted in a third day of limited activity on the fire burning in the backcountry of Yellowstone National Park.
The Magpie Fire, burning in the backcountry 7 miles east of Madison Junction, remains estimated at 805 acres. It is burning in a section of mature lodgepole pine which is completely surrounded by an area burned by the 1988 North Fork Fire.
Observed fire activity Tuesday was mostly confined to unburned trees inside the fire perimeter. There was limited growth at the heel and head of the fire. Firefighters have been monitoring the fire’s growth on the ground and from the park’s three fire lookout towers. An aerial reconnaissance flight to map the fire is slated for Wednesday, weather permitting.
The weather forecast calls for some clouds, light winds and a chance of isolated showers and thunderstorms Wednesday. Thursday promises to be mostly sunny, warmer and drier.
The Magpie Fire is being managed as a Wildland Fire Use for Resource Benefits. The fire supports the park’s goal of allowing natural fires to play their role in the ecosystem when they do not threaten any park visitors or property.
The fire danger in the park remains high, however, there no fire restrictions in the park. All visitor services, park entrances and roads are open. Some hiking trails near the fire remain closed. A temporary flight restriction over the fire continues to be in effect.
When actively burning, the Magpie Fire can produce smoke visible from or along nearby roads and developed areas and from the Mount Washburn Fire Lookout web cam at http://www.nps.gov/yell/tours/livecams/mtwashburn.
There have been five wildland fires in Yellowstone National Park this year. Three fires have been declared out after burning less than an acre each. In addition to the Magpie Fire, the Bison Peak Fire northeast of Tower Junction is still smoldering after burning an area smaller than the typical home-owner's back yard.
Updated information is posted to the Wildland Fire section of the park web site at
http://www.nps.gov/yell/technical/fire and to the InciWeb Incident Information System web site at http://inciweb.org.
