August 26, 2011 - 12:30 p.m.
Five new fires were discovered in Yellowstone National Park on Thursday, August 25. The Heart Lake Fire was discovered Thursday morning; the other four were reported late Thursday afternoon. All five are small lightning caused fires burning in the backcountry.
Heart Fire
This fire is located in the south central portion of the park, about a half mile northeast of Heart Lake. This lightning caused fire was reported Thursday morning, August 25. It is one-tenth of an acre. As a precaution, firefighters will set up structure protection at the Heart Lake Patrol Cabin, which is about a mile from the heel of the fire.
Sour Fire
Discovered Thursday afternoon, August 25, this fire is several miles southeast of Canyon Village and west of the junction of the Wapiti (WAH-puh-tee) Lake and Astringent Creek trails. Due to its location, the park has temporarily closed some nearby backcountry campsites and trail segments. It is one-tenth of an acre in size.
Point Fire
This small fire, one-tenth of an acre in size, was also reported Thursday afternoon, August 25. It is located on the east shore of Yellowstone Lake, between Elk Point and Park Point.
Huckleberry Fire
This fire was spotted Thursday afternoon, August 25 northeast of the park's South Entrance. This fire is burning in dense, old growth forest and can produce a smoke column visible from the South Entrance road. Currently one-tenth of an acre in size, it is expected to grow in the coming days.
A fifth, yet unnamed fire has been reported on the Pitchstone Plateau in the southwest corner of the park. Firefighters will travel into this remote site Friday for a size-up.
All five of these new fires will be managed as the Heart Complex.
The one other active fire burning in the park is the Gibbon Fire. It was discovered on July 12. This lightning caused fire is burning in the backcountry 3 miles east of Madison Junction. It is currently six acres. The Gibbon Fire received over one-third of an inch of rain Thursday, which has significantly reduced fire activity.
Yellowstone National Park is part of a larger fire adapted ecosystem. Fire plays an important role in maintaining the health of this area's wildlife habitat and vegetation. All of these lightning caused fires are being managed to allow natural process to occur to enhance the area's natural resources, to protect people and property, and to effectively use available firefighting resources.
The fire danger in Yellowstone is "Very High". Visitors are encouraged to be careful with campfires, grills, camp stoves, and smoking materials. There have been 14 fires reported in Yellowstone this year.
Other than limited temporary closures of some backcountry campsites and hiking trails, all park entrances, roads and services are open. None of these fires pose a threat to park visitors.
The latest information on backcountry access is available by contacting Backcountry Offices throughout the park or by calling 307-344-2160 during normal business hours, seven days a week. When actively burning, smoke from any of these fires may be visible from park roadways. Updated information is available 24-hours a day by calling 307-344-2580, or on the web at http://www.inciweb.org/unit/5382/.
The Moon is Waxing Gibbous (55% of Full)
Yellowstone Fire Update - August 26
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August 26, 2011 06:19PM |
August 27, 2011 01:50PM |
Heart Complex Update: August 27, 2011 - 2:00 p.m.
Recent thunderstorms packed with lightning added a sixth small fire to the five currently being managed in Yellowstone National Park since August 25 as the Heart Complex.
The 0.1-acre Prospect Fire, located one mile southwest of Tower Village, was discovered yesterday afternoon. It will be suppressed today using three Yellowstone wildland firefighters supported by helicopter bucket work because of its proximity to the developed Tower Village concessioner and campground areas, the continuous fuels available in the area and the prevailing southwest winds over the fire.
All five Heart Complex fires are small lightning caused fires burning in the backcountry areas of the park with varying degrees of behavior and growth potential. All but one are approximately one-tenth of an acre or less and all are being managed under a Type 3 organization to allow natural processes to occur to enhance the area's natural resources, to protect people and property, and to effectively use available firefighting resources.
Heart Fire. 0.1 acres. Burning one mile to the east of the Heart Lake patrol cabin and a half mile north of Heart Lake and the Continental Divide Trail. Minimal growth and activity today, and moderate potential for growth toward Yellowstone Lake through a mix of fire scars from the past 30 years. Previous plans for structural protection of the patrol cabin have been suspended due to the limited activity of this fire.
Sour Fire. 0.1 acres. Burning in a single tree along the Wapiti Lake Trail east of Canyon Village on the Mirror Plateau. Fire managers will continually reassess the need for trail and campground closures in proximity to this fire. Temporarily closures are already in place in some nearby backcountry campsites and trail segments.
Point Fire. 0.1 acres. Burning in one rotting log surrounded by green fuels on the eastern shore of Yellowstone Lake near the Thorofare Trail between Park Point and Elk Point. Low potential for growth while adjacent herbaceous fuels remain green. The area to the east of this fire is dominated by extensive fire history less than 10 years old.
Huckleberry Fire. 0.1 acres. Burning south of the Snake River and South Boundary Trail two miles from the southern boundary of the park in heavy downed and dead lodgepole pine. Minimal growth and activity today. Moderate to high potential for growth with potential to reach the Teton Wilderness outside the park before the fire season ending event. Because of its proximity to the park's South Entrance, a smoke column may be visible from the entrance road.
Gibbon Fire. 6 to 10 acres, burning since July 12th approximately three miles southeast of Madison Junction in mature and regenerated lodgepole pine. Protection measures continue today including the placement of pumps and sprinklers along a power line easement located one mile to the north of the fire. An updated perimeter map and on-site fuel samples are also being collected today. A small smoke column may be visible along the Grand Loop Road between Madison Junction and Gibbon Falls.
In the past 24 hours, more than 660 lightning strikes have been recorded within the park. An unnamed fire reported August 25 on the Pitchstone Plateau in the southwest corner of the park has not been located. Crews will continue to fly the area over the next few days to try and locate it.
The fire danger rating in Yellowstone is currently "Very High." Visitors are encouraged to be careful with campfires, grills, camp stoves and smoking materials. There have been 14 fires reported in Yellowstone this year.
Other than limited temporary closures of some backcountry campsites and hiking trails, all park entrances, roads and services are open. None of these fires pose a threat to park visitors.
The latest information on backcountry access is available by contacting Backcountry Offices throughout the park or by calling 307-344-2160 during normal business hours, seven days a week. When actively burning, smoke from any of these fires may be visible from park roadways. Updated information is available 24-hours a day by calling 307-344-2580, or on the web at http://www.inciweb.org/unit/5382/.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/27/2011 02:11PM by eeek.
Recent thunderstorms packed with lightning added a sixth small fire to the five currently being managed in Yellowstone National Park since August 25 as the Heart Complex.
The 0.1-acre Prospect Fire, located one mile southwest of Tower Village, was discovered yesterday afternoon. It will be suppressed today using three Yellowstone wildland firefighters supported by helicopter bucket work because of its proximity to the developed Tower Village concessioner and campground areas, the continuous fuels available in the area and the prevailing southwest winds over the fire.
All five Heart Complex fires are small lightning caused fires burning in the backcountry areas of the park with varying degrees of behavior and growth potential. All but one are approximately one-tenth of an acre or less and all are being managed under a Type 3 organization to allow natural processes to occur to enhance the area's natural resources, to protect people and property, and to effectively use available firefighting resources.
Heart Fire. 0.1 acres. Burning one mile to the east of the Heart Lake patrol cabin and a half mile north of Heart Lake and the Continental Divide Trail. Minimal growth and activity today, and moderate potential for growth toward Yellowstone Lake through a mix of fire scars from the past 30 years. Previous plans for structural protection of the patrol cabin have been suspended due to the limited activity of this fire.
Sour Fire. 0.1 acres. Burning in a single tree along the Wapiti Lake Trail east of Canyon Village on the Mirror Plateau. Fire managers will continually reassess the need for trail and campground closures in proximity to this fire. Temporarily closures are already in place in some nearby backcountry campsites and trail segments.
Point Fire. 0.1 acres. Burning in one rotting log surrounded by green fuels on the eastern shore of Yellowstone Lake near the Thorofare Trail between Park Point and Elk Point. Low potential for growth while adjacent herbaceous fuels remain green. The area to the east of this fire is dominated by extensive fire history less than 10 years old.
Huckleberry Fire. 0.1 acres. Burning south of the Snake River and South Boundary Trail two miles from the southern boundary of the park in heavy downed and dead lodgepole pine. Minimal growth and activity today. Moderate to high potential for growth with potential to reach the Teton Wilderness outside the park before the fire season ending event. Because of its proximity to the park's South Entrance, a smoke column may be visible from the entrance road.
Gibbon Fire. 6 to 10 acres, burning since July 12th approximately three miles southeast of Madison Junction in mature and regenerated lodgepole pine. Protection measures continue today including the placement of pumps and sprinklers along a power line easement located one mile to the north of the fire. An updated perimeter map and on-site fuel samples are also being collected today. A small smoke column may be visible along the Grand Loop Road between Madison Junction and Gibbon Falls.
In the past 24 hours, more than 660 lightning strikes have been recorded within the park. An unnamed fire reported August 25 on the Pitchstone Plateau in the southwest corner of the park has not been located. Crews will continue to fly the area over the next few days to try and locate it.
The fire danger rating in Yellowstone is currently "Very High." Visitors are encouraged to be careful with campfires, grills, camp stoves and smoking materials. There have been 14 fires reported in Yellowstone this year.
Other than limited temporary closures of some backcountry campsites and hiking trails, all park entrances, roads and services are open. None of these fires pose a threat to park visitors.
The latest information on backcountry access is available by contacting Backcountry Offices throughout the park or by calling 307-344-2160 during normal business hours, seven days a week. When actively burning, smoke from any of these fires may be visible from park roadways. Updated information is available 24-hours a day by calling 307-344-2580, or on the web at http://www.inciweb.org/unit/5382/.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/27/2011 02:11PM by eeek.
August 28, 2011 02:41PM |
September 02, 2011 01:01PM |
September 09, 2011 03:33PM |
Heart Complex: September 6, 2011 - 2:00 p.m.
The Point Fire on the eastern shore of Yellowstone Lake increased to 1,100 acres over Labor Day weekend, driven by steady winds and increasingly drier weather conditions.
The fire is burning in downed and dead logs with single and group tree torching behavior increasing in the afternoons. As a precautionary measure, the Thorofare Trail has been closed from the Nine Mile Trailhead to one mile south of the fire area. Smoke will likely be visible around the eastern edge of the lake and on portions of the East Entrance road.
Five lightning caused wildland fires, managed as the Heart Complex, continue to burn in the backcountry of Yellowstone National Park.
The Gibbon Fire, burning three miles southeast of Madison Junction, has seen little new fire activity and remains estimated at 16-18 acres.
Three other fires, the Ouzel, Huckleberry and Pitchstone are all one acre or less in size. They are being managed to allow natural processes to occur to enhance the area's natural resources, to protect people and property, and to effectively use available firefighting resources.
The Sour Fire, which was burning east of Canyon Village, and the Heart Fire, which was burning north of Heart Lake, were declared out at a tenth of an acre, September 4 and 6, respectively.
Other than limited temporary closures of some backcountry campsites and hiking trails, all park entrances, roads and services are open. None of these fires pose a threat to park visitors.
When actively burning, smoke from any of these fires may be visible from park roadways. Updated information is available 24-hours a day by calling 307-344-2580, or on the web at http://www.inciweb.org/unit/5382/. The Point Fire may also be observed from the Fire Lookout web cam on Mount Washburn at http://www.nps.gov/yell/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm.
The fire danger rating in Yellowstone is currently "Very High," and continued warm and dry weather with little precipitation is predicted for the next week. Visitors are encouraged to be careful with campfires, grills, camp stoves and smoking materials. There have been 18 fires reported in Yellowstone this year.
The latest information on backcountry access is available at park Visitor Centers or Backcountry Offices.
NPS
The Point Fire seen from atop Mt. Washburn
The Point Fire on the eastern shore of Yellowstone Lake increased to 1,100 acres over Labor Day weekend, driven by steady winds and increasingly drier weather conditions.
The fire is burning in downed and dead logs with single and group tree torching behavior increasing in the afternoons. As a precautionary measure, the Thorofare Trail has been closed from the Nine Mile Trailhead to one mile south of the fire area. Smoke will likely be visible around the eastern edge of the lake and on portions of the East Entrance road.
Five lightning caused wildland fires, managed as the Heart Complex, continue to burn in the backcountry of Yellowstone National Park.
The Gibbon Fire, burning three miles southeast of Madison Junction, has seen little new fire activity and remains estimated at 16-18 acres.
Three other fires, the Ouzel, Huckleberry and Pitchstone are all one acre or less in size. They are being managed to allow natural processes to occur to enhance the area's natural resources, to protect people and property, and to effectively use available firefighting resources.
The Sour Fire, which was burning east of Canyon Village, and the Heart Fire, which was burning north of Heart Lake, were declared out at a tenth of an acre, September 4 and 6, respectively.
Other than limited temporary closures of some backcountry campsites and hiking trails, all park entrances, roads and services are open. None of these fires pose a threat to park visitors.
When actively burning, smoke from any of these fires may be visible from park roadways. Updated information is available 24-hours a day by calling 307-344-2580, or on the web at http://www.inciweb.org/unit/5382/. The Point Fire may also be observed from the Fire Lookout web cam on Mount Washburn at http://www.nps.gov/yell/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm.
The fire danger rating in Yellowstone is currently "Very High," and continued warm and dry weather with little precipitation is predicted for the next week. Visitors are encouraged to be careful with campfires, grills, camp stoves and smoking materials. There have been 18 fires reported in Yellowstone this year.
The latest information on backcountry access is available at park Visitor Centers or Backcountry Offices.
NPS
The Point Fire seen from atop Mt. Washburn
September 12, 2011 01:20PM |
September 13, 2011 12:14PM |
September 16, 2011 03:39PM |
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