Date: July 11, 2007
Contact: Al Nash, 307-344-2010
Contact: Stacy Vallie, 307-344-2012
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Yellowstone National Park
P.O. Box 168
Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 11, 2007 07-38
Al Nash or Stacy Vallie (307) 344-2010 or 344-2012
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YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK NEWS RELEASE
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Firefighters Working To Contain Raven Fire In Yellowstone’s Backcountry
Moderate weather has aided firefighters in their effort to build a containment line around a small fire in the backcountry of Yellowstone National Park.
The Raven Fire is located about 9 miles east of Fishing Bridge. This lightning-caused fire was discovered Friday, July 6. The fire is in an island of old growth spruce and fir surrounded by a meadow and areas that burned in 1994 and 1988. The fire has not grown in size since Saturday. A recent reconnaissance flight allowed firefighters to estimate the fire size at 25 acres.
Safety concerns due to the large number or grizzly bears in the area have prompted managers to limit the number of firefighters who camp near the fire each night. Using hand tools, small portable pumps, and occasional helicopter bucket drops of water, firefighters have managed to get the fire about 80-percent contained. Full containment is expected to take several more days.
The Elephant Fire and the Chicken Fire, which were also discovered last Friday, have been contained. They were each limited to one-tenth of an acre.
The Raven Fire is the only active fire in Yellowstone. It is well way from roads and developed areas, and poses no threat to visitors. All visitor services, park entrances and park roads are open.
There have been nine fires in the park so far this year. Four were caused by people, and five were the result of lightning strikes.
Most areas of Yellowstone National Park have had little precipitation since early June. A variety of indicators suggest that a fire started by lightning or careless human activity has the potential to grow; especially on a hot, dry, windy day. Fire restrictions have been in effect in the park since July 3. In recent days, the fire danger in the park has ranged from “Moderate” to “Very High”.
Updated information on fire activity in Yellowstone National Park is posted to the park’s Wildland Fire Management website at http://www.nps.gov/yell/parkmgmt/firemanagement.htm, and on the InciWeb Incident Information System website at http://inciweb.org.
- www.nps.gov/yell -
