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Yellowstone National Park officials report the East Entrance Road remains closed because of the East fire. A 12 mile stretch of the road has been affected by the fire. Fire-weakened trees and snags, along with rocks rolling onto the road make it extremely hazardous. The road may remain closed for several days. Visitors approaching the park through Cody, Wyoming are reminded that an alternate route into the park from Cody is the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway (WY Route 296) through the Northeast Entrance. No other park fires are near roads or buildings, and all facilities and all other roads in the park remain open at this time.
There were 5 new fire starts in the park yesterday because of recent lightning strikes and continued extremely dry conditions. Visitors are advised that smoke from multiple fires in the region is often present in certain areas of the park.
Following is information on active Yellowstone fires:
Grizzly Fire: The grizzly fire grew considerably yesterday. A flight to accurately map the fire is planned for today.
For information on these two fires, contact Peter Frenzen or Greg Thayer, Fire Information Officers with the Grizzly-East Complex Incident Management Team, 307-242-9115.
Following is information on other active Yellowstone fires:
Union Fire: Now at 35 acres, this fire in the southwest part of the park is spreading slowly to the north into a previously burned area and the Pitchstone Plateau, characterized by sparser fuel types. It is being managed under a confinement strategy. It is not moving toward Union Falls.
Huck Fire: This .1 acre fire was contained yesterday by 8 smokejumpers.
Alder and Smoke Jumper Fires: These new smokes could not be relocated yesterday.
Heart, Sour, Red, Terrace, and El Berry Fires: These fires had initial attack crews on them yesterday, and have been controlled or are close to containment today.
Backcountry trails currently closed due to fire activity include the Turbid Lake, Jones Pass, Ninemile, Avalanche Peak, Pelican Valley to Mist Pass, and Union Falls Trails. Visitors using the backcountry are encouraged to call the backcountry office at: 307-344-2160 for specific trail closure information and other possible restrictions.
Yellowstone Fire Management Policy requires that all human-caused fires be suppressed but that natural fires be allowed to burn as long as they do not threaten people, property or resource values. Before any wildland fire is allowed to burn, however, it must be carefully evaluated and meet an inventory of pre-established criteria (including current and forecasted weather and wind conditions, fuel moisture levels, site location data, and sufficient resources).
If all criteria are not met on a daily basis, the fire must be reassessed to determine whether it will still be allowed to burn or if it must be immediately suppressed. With the current dry conditions in the park and the lack of significant moisture, each new fire start is being carefully evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine whether the appropriate management action will be to suppress or allow new fire starts to burn. With few exceptions, the park is in full suppression mode because of observed extreme fire behavior, very dry fuels, and limited firefighting resources.
Today's weather forecast is calling for mostly cloudy conditions with scattered showers and thunderstorms. The potential for more lightning strikes is fairly high. High temperatures will be cooler, around 70 - 76 degrees, with relative humidity higher at 30 - 34 percent. Winds are expected to be from the northwest at 5 ? 10 mph, with ridge top winds out of the northwest at 10 - 15 mph. The long term forecast calls for partly cloudy skies with a small chance of showers and thunderstorms, and highs in the upper 70s and lower 80s.
Additional Fire restrictions went into effect on August 16. No wood or charcoal fires will be allowed at any of the frontcountry areas. This includes the use of fire grates, charcoal grills, fire pans, and any other ember-producing equipment in all campgrounds, picnic areas, parking areas, and employee housing. Additionally, no smoking is allowed in the frontcountry except within buildings where smoking is normally permitted, in vehicles, or designated smoking areas?provided an ashtray is used. Other
restrictions implemented July 17 prohibit any backcountry wood or charcoal fires, and smoking is restricted to the immediate vicinity of the cooking area in designated backcountry sites only.
For a recorded message of updated fire information, call: 307-344-2580. For fire maps and other fire information, visit the park's web site at: http://www.nps.gov/yell/technical/fire/index.htm.
East Fire: A burn-out operation yesterday to the east from the Pelican Valley Trail was successful in checking the spread of the fire toward Fishing Bridge. All visitor facilities in the Fishing Bridge area remain open. A fire line and burnout was also accomplished on a small section along the east side of the fire. The fire is now estimated to be 13,500 acres in size and 5% contained, due to the burnout. Firefighting resources on the East and Grizzly fires include 368 personnel, including 12 crews; one heavy, one light and two medium helicopters; 5 engine crews and 4 water tenders. Structure protection was put in place yesterday at Fishing Bridge.
A Type II incident management team has responsibility for the East and Grizzly Fires.
Tyson Fire: This fire has grown to 100 acres. It is located in the Beaverdam Creek drainage east of the Southeast Arm of Yellowstone Lake. The north side of the fire was secured yesterday. Bucket drops from two helicopters and approximately 27 Yellowstone firefighters will be devoted to it today.
There have been a total of 64 fires during the 2003 fire season - 6 human-caused and 58 lightning caused.
Information provided by the NPS
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