Date: August 13, 2007
Contact: Terina Mullen, 307-242-7649
Contact: Jill Cobb, 307-242-7649
Contact: Tom Rhode, 307-242-7649
COLUMBINE FIRE FACT SHEET
Monday, August 13, 2007 9:00 a.m.
Contact: Public Information Officers Terina Mullen, Jill Cobb and Tom Rhode
Message Phone: (307) 242-7649
The East Entrance Road into Yellowstone is closed from the East Gate to the Pelican Creek barricade.
What: Wildland fire, lightning caused
Started: August 9, 2007 6:00 p.m.
Location: 46 miles southeast of Mammoth, Yellowstone National Park
Jurisdiction: Yellowstone National Park
Cooperating Agencies: Yellowstone National Park, Shoshone National Forest, Cody Rural Fire Department, Park County Sheriff.
Incident Commander & Team: A Northern Rockies Type II Incident Management Team (IMT), under Incident Commander Mark Grant assumed command as of 8:00 a.m. August 12, 2007.
Current size: 7,000 acres Containment: 0%
Yesterday’s Activities: Fire operations specialists assessed the fire and developed suppression strategies. A helicopter dropped water on a spot fire until intense fire behavior ruled the efforts ineffective. The East Entrance Road was closed from the Gate to the Pelican Creek barricade for public safety. A reconnaissance flight at 8:30 p.m. reported the fire between ¼ and ½ mile south of Sylvan Pass and approximately three air miles from the park’s eastern boundary.
Resources on Fire: The number of firefighters assigned to the incident is 33.
Today’s Strategy: Fire managers will continue to work with local cooperators to assess structure protection needs along the park’s eastern boundary. The closure of the East Gate Road will be reevaluated. Fire weather could prove challenging for firefighters, with 25 to 30 mph southwest winds, 80 degree temperatures and relative humidity of 20 to 25% predicted.
Special Messages: Firefighter and public safety is always the #1 priority on any fire incident. Visitors to the park need to be especially mindful of the increased traffic in the Fishing Bridge Area. With the exception of the East Gate entrance, all other entrances to Yellowstone Park are open.
Prevention Messages: Fire restrictions are in effect in Yellowstone National Park. Wood fires and charcoal grills will be allowed only in designated fire rings or grates at picnic areas, developed campgrounds and at some backcountry campsites. Portable camp stoves and lanterns which use white gas, kerosene, compressed gas or similar fuels and sheepherder-type stoves with spark arrester screens may be used at picnic areas, developed campgrounds and in the backcountry. Smoking is permitted only inside vehicles, on sidewalks, in gravel or paved parking areas, in developed campgrounds, immediately adjacent to backcountry fire rings and in designated smoking areas inside buildings. Fireworks are prohibited in the Park and on all surrounding National Forest lands.
Stage I Fire Restrictions are in place on adjacent lands administered by the Shoshone National Forest. Campfires are allowed only in designated recreation sites. Smoking is restricted to vehicles, buildings and areas void of vegetation.
For further fire information, visit: www.inciweb.org
