Small Fire Burning In Southeast Corner Of Yellowstone

Lightning from weekend thunderstorms started a small fire in the southeastern section of Yellowstone National Park.

The Doane Fire was discovered just before noon on Sunday, July 11. The fire is east of Yellowstone Lake, and several miles south of the East Entrance road. It was named for nearby Doane Mountain.

The fire is a quarter-acre in size, and burning in an island of unburned trees left when the Columbine Fire burned through the same area in 2007. Smoke from the fire was visible Sunday afternoon from along the shore of Yellowstone Lake.

No roads, campgrounds, or trails are closed because of this fire. It poses no threat to visitors.

Yellowstone National Park is a fire adapted ecosystem. Fire plays an important role in maintaining the health of this area’s wildlife habitat and vegetation.

Most fires occurring in these areas are caused by lightening. These fires are managed to protect people and property, enhance the area’s natural resources where appropriate, and safely and effectively use available firefighting resources.

The fire danger in Yellowstone National Park is “Low”. The National Weather Service forecast for the next several days is calling for sunny skies and breezy conditions, with daytime highs in the 60s and overnight lows in the 30s.

Portable camp stoves and self-contained charcoal grills may be used for cooking in all designated campsites and picnic areas. Campfires are allowed only in established fire pits or grates in campgrounds, picnic areas, and a few designated backcountry campsites.

When updated information on the Doane Fire is available, it will be posted to the web at http://inciweb.org/, and available 24 hours a day by calling 307-344-2580.

This is the third fire reported in Yellowstone National Park this year. One was started by lightning, the other by a spark from a power line. Both were less than a half acre in size and have been declared out.