8/31/13, 8:30 pm: Alum Fire Smokes

 Visitors travel south from Canyon to Fishing Bridge on the Grand Loop saw numerous smokes from the Alum Fire today.  After five days of moist weather and rainfall, the sky finally cleared and fuels started drying out and the fire became more active.  Most burning was in dead and downed timber but occasionally a tree would torch sending up a column of black smoke.   Sunday's weather forecast calls for low humidity and temperature in the mid-70s which may lead to even more active fire and visible smokes.  Smoke may impact the Grand Loop Road near the fire so drivers are asked to use extra caution.

Fire Information Officers will be at Mud Volcano to answer visitor's questions and talk about the important role fire plays in Yellowstone's ecosystem.

8/31/13, 12:15 pm Small fire in West Yellowstone, MT does not impact Yellowstone Park visitors

As a courtesy to our neighbors in West Yellowstone, we are posting a link to news of two small fires that lit Friday evening about ten miles southwest of West Yellowstone, and about ten miles outside of Yellowstone Park, in the Gallatin National Forest along the Idaho state line.

These fires currently have no impacts on visitors coming to the park through West Yellowstone.  The smaller of the fires is already completely contained Saturday morning.  The larger 30 acre "Two Top" fire has hotshot crews, smokejumpers, air resources and a bulldozer working to contain it.  Further news of this fire is available at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3714/ or from the Gallatin National Forest at (406) 579-3732 .

8/31/13 9:15 am: Druid Complex morning update

Visitors to Yellowstone may enjoy seeing wildfire play its natural role in the park Saturday and Sunday.  Warm dry days should pep up fires that have lain and smoldered since receiving about a half inch of rain last week. 

None of the six fires in Yellowstone Park poses a threat to visitors.  Skies should be clear and pleasant through the holiday weekend.  Hardly a wisp of smoke came from any fire in the park Friday, although smoke from distant California fires settled in some areas north of Yellowstone.

Still, sunshine and humidities in the teens may make for more obvious fire presence this weekend.  As fire builds a bit of momentum, a few trees may catch fire in areas visible to visitors.  The 7090 acre Alum Fire, south of the Mud Volcano area, showed little smoke Friday and has not grown in a week.  If the fire eventually approaches Grand Loop Road, Park officials would coordinate a road closure, a short term inconvenience to visitors, much like closing the road for a bison herd. 

The one acre Caldron Fire east of the Yellowstone River is also visible from Mud Volcano. Lightning started that fire Thursday afternoon, but on Friday, puffs of smoke were rare. The 155 acre Druid Fire lies high on a ridge a few miles north of the Northeast Entrance Road above the Lamar valley.  A remote camera is monitoring the Druid Fire, which has been inactive in recent days. Three other fires have also shown little activity, but lookouts, fire monitors, and aircraft will observe them until enough rain or snow falls to end the fire season.

Almost 500 lightning strikes hit the southeast side of Yellowstone Park Friday from one strong, short thunderstorm.  No rain reached the Alum, Caldron, or Druid Fires, but the other three got wet.  Recent lightning may smolder for a week before reigniting from very hot, windy weather.

Additional information can be found on the web at:

www.druidcomplex.blogspot.com - for updates as they become available

http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/unit/5382

Twitter @YellowstoneNPS

Facebook at YellowstoneNPS

Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/yellowstonenps/sets/72157635186710997/

Yellowstone National Park Website http://www.nps.gov/yell/index.htm

Web Cams at http://www.nps.gov/yell/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm

8/30/13, 5:00pm: Smoke map!

We've heard reports of smoke drifting into the northern end of Yellowstone National Park. This smoke is NOT from fires in Yellowstone but from fires elsewhere, including the Rim Fire in Yosemite National Park, Where we sit in the Lake area in Yellowstone, the skies are beautiful and air is clear.  
While fires in our region may produce visible smoke columns when actively burning, they are not the major source of the smoke haze which is covering our area.

The majority of the smoke haze is being produced by the Rim Fire in California, which is now well over 200,000 acres and is the largest fire in the nation so far this year.

8/30/13, 3:30pm: Critical weather near Yellowstone

We've gotten a lot of call from visitors who are traveling through Yellowstone National Park, and spending time in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. While the weather in Yellowstone is getting a little warmer and drier this weekend, critical fire weather conditions have moved into Montana. 

8/30/13, 12:00pm: A thunderstorm is crossing the southeast side of Yellowstone National Park

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK WY-
1244 PM MDT FRI AUG 30 2013

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL PARK AND NORTHEASTERN
TETON COUNTIES IN NORTHWEST WYOMING UNTIL 130 PM MDT...

AT 1242 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR SOUTH ENTRANCE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30
MPH.

HAIL FROM ONE QUARTER TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP
TO 45 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH BRIEF HEAVY RAIN
AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
LEWIS LAKE AROUND 1250 PM MDT.
HEART LAKE AROUND 100 PM MDT.
SOUTH ARM OF LAKE YELLOWSTONE AROUND 120 PM MDT.
SOUTHEAST ARM OF LAKE YELLOWSTONE AROUND 130 PM MDT.

8/30/13, 10:45 am: The Elephant Back trail is reopening this morning near the Lake area.

The Elephant Back trail is reopening this morning near the Lake area.  This popular trail, north of Bridge Bay and south of Lake, climbs a small steep ridge west of Grand Loop Road for a grand view of Yellowstone Lake.

The trail had closed due to work by fire crews under the nearby powerline that runs along the west side of Grand Loop Road.  In recent days they thinned vegetation by the powerline to create a defensible fuel break, which protects developed areas nearby from any potential movement of the Alum Fire.

Walkers should enjoy the trail while remembering to stay bear aware.  At least two grizzlies have frequented the Lake and Fishing Bridge area in the past few days.

All trails near Yellowstone's fires are now OPEN except for the Howard Eaton Trail, which runs north from Fishing Bridge on the east side of the Yellowstone River.

8/30/13, 10 am: morning update for the Druid Complex

As with all natural systems, balance is inevitable and the storm cell that dampened the persistent Alum Fire near Fishing Bridge village Thursday, also produced lightning that started at least one new wildfire in the park.  The only confirmed start, the Caldron Fire, was reported by eyewitnesses at the Mud Volcano and is located approximately 1.5 miles northeast of the Mud Volcano Area.  Observed shortly thereafter by recon aircraft, the lightning ignited heavy, fallen fuels in a lodgepole pine stand.  A second start is thought to exist southward in the LeHardy area, but that smoke was inconsistent and, to date, could not be verified.  Interestingly, the incident meteorologist recorded over 700 cloud-to-ground strikes in the park yesterday afternoon, so additional starts elsewhere in the park should be expected. All the individual wildfires within Yellowstone National Park’s Druid Fire Complex, now over two weeks old, continued to succumb to afternoon thunder showers and increased relative humidity.

Friday will bring a drying weather pattern to the park region and fire behavior analysts foresee the most fire favorable weather in at least 10 days.  Although the mention of increasing fire risk brings fear, we must remember that fire plays a natural and key role in Yellowstone’s ancient ecosystem.  Currently no cultural or historic infrastructure is threatened, and solid plans are in place to protect park visitors and assets should the unexpected occur.

The four other fires currently being monitored within park boundaries (the Druid, Alder, Passage and Snake) have shown minimal activity in recent days, but they will continue to be taken very seriously in light of the emerging weather pattern.

The indirect fireline work that took place behind the government housing complex and Bridge Bay area has reached the “rehab” stage.  In this final stage, firelines are proven clear of flammable woody debris, then regraded and “fluffed” to remove compaction, allow for proper drainage (preventing erosion), assure that new vegetative ground cover can be established, and return the area to as natural a state as possible. 

Additional information can be found on the web at:

http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/unit/5382

Twitter @YellowstoneNPS

Facebook at YellowstoneNPS

Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/yellowstonenps/sets/72157635186710997/

Yellowstone National Park Website http://www.nps.gov/yell/index.htm

Web Cams at http://www.nps.gov/yell/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm

###

8/29/13, 4:40pm: Caldron Fire poses no threat to Yellowstone visitors

Caldron fire, lit by lightning just before 3 pm 8/29 - photo Marie Phillips

Yellowstone National Park firefighters confirmed a small fire east of Mud Volcano and the Yellowstone River.

The Caldron Fire is in the Yellowstone backcountry and poses no threat or impact to visitors, although it can be seen from the Mud Volcano area.  The name comes from the nearby Sulphur Caldron, which is not spelled "cauldron."

The Caldron Fire is burning in heavy, lodgepole timber half a mile to the east of the Yellowstone River between the Sulphur (2001) and LeHardy (2008) fire scars.  It will be managed under a monitoring and point-protection strategy as part of the Druid Complex, which now includes all six fires burning in the Park.  Activity on the fire is currently light, but it does have good potential to move in a northeast direction if a drying trend occurs.  Managers will frequently reassess any potential need to close any trails or campsites in the wilderness areas near the fire.  Please remember: Yellowstone Fire Danger is Very High. 

3/29/2013, 4:00pm: Druid Complex Rehabilitation Plan, and more afternoon updates

Fire destroys and fire heals; fire burns and fire renews. Fire is absolutely necessary for a healthy Yellowstone National Park, and it's important to land managers to make sure that the landscape's rebirth progresses quickly.

Druid Complex fire managers are working on a rehabilitation plan for areas impacted by the Alum fire and firefighting operations. The plan is designed to help return these landscapes to their natural state.

Other updates from the Druid Complex:

• Fire activity is minimal again today. Crews continue to remove debris from the indirect fireline constructed behind the Lake government housing area.
• A lookout on Mount Sheridan is keeping an eye on the Snake, Passage, and Alder fires. The Alder fire is retaining some heat, but not showing much movement.

8/29/13, 3:10 pm: Montana areas north of Yellowstone will be under a Red Flag Warning Friday

Montana areas north of Yellowstone will be under a Red Flag Warning Friday for increased fire activity. According to the National Weather Service, in Park, Sweet Grass, and Gallatin Counties, low humidities and strong gusty winds may cause strong and erratic fire growth. Winds may gust to 35 mph, with minimum humidities dropping to 12%.

8/29/13, 3:00pm: New fire start approximately two miles east of Mud Volcano

We've received reports of a new lightning-started fire two miles east of Mud Volcano, approximately in the Stone Top Mountain area. A plume of white smoke is visible from Mud Volcano. Fire managers are verifying the exact location, but this fire is in a neighborhood where it poses no immediate threat or impact to visitors.  We'll post more information as it comes in.

8/29/13, 2:45pm: Yellowstone National Park Weather Advisory

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RIVERTON WY
150 PM MDT THU AUG 29 2013

WYZ001-002-012-013-292030-
ABSAROKA MOUNTAINS WY-JACKSON HOLE WY-TETON AND GROS VENTRE MOUNTAINS
WY-YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK WY-
150 PM MDT THU AUG 29 2013

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL PARK AND NORTHEASTERN
TETON COUNTIES IN NORTHWEST WYOMING UNTIL 230 PM MDT...

AT 148 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES NORTHEAST OF SOUTH ENTRANCE...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

HAIL FROM ONE QUARTER TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS 
UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN 
AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
HEART LAKE AROUND 200 PM MDT.
SOUTH ARM OF LAKE YELLOWSTONE AROUND 220 PM MDT.
SOUTHEAST ARM OF LAKE YELLOWSTONE AROUND 225 PM MDT.

IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...TAKE SHELTER IN A
STURDY BUILDING.

IN ADDITION...THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR
LOCAL RADIO AND TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS...
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE.

BRIEF HEAVY RAIN...WHICH MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES
AND RAVINES...IS ALSO LIKELY. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE ON A
FLOODED ROADWAY.

REPORT HAZARDOUS WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN
RIVERTON AT 1-800-211-1448.

8/29/13, noon: Receive speedy notice of changes in fire activity, if you like

As you plan your Yellowstone vacation, you may want instant "tactical information" of any changes in fire activity, to help you decide on routes or places to visit.  Right now fires have almost no influence on visitors, other than providing opportunity at the Mud Volcano area to photograph smoke from a real Yellowstone wildfire. The air is clear and weather is beautiful for the Labor Day weekend.

If you would like updates sent to your cell phone of changes in fire activity and other Yellowstone news as they are broadcast, text follow yellowstonenps to the phone number 40404 using your cell phone, and you will begin receiving Twitter updates on your phone.  They will focus on changes in the fires that might affect visitors' plans. We are sending perhaps five or ten of these tweets a day, depending on fire activity.  When you wish to stop receiving those updates, use your cell phone to text stop yellowstonenps to 40404.

8/29/13, 11:45 am: Yesterday's maps show relationships

We are not posting new maps today, because, frankly, none of the Complex's fires grew more than an acre or two Wednesday. The lower two of Wednesday's posted fire history maps show that both our more active fires, Alum and Druid, lit in some of the only large areas of the Park that have not burned within the last 130 years.  These fires are thus in overmature lodgepole pine-Douglas fir forest near the end of its natural life span.  These areas renew their forest from fire, the custodian of their landscape.  Historical fires from the 1880's to 2000's have burned in areas several miles from this summer's fires, which are playing "catch-up" in their neighborhoods.

 

8/29/13, 8:45 am: Druid Complex fire update

The Druid Complex, once consisting of five active wildfires within the bounds of Yellowstone National Park, continues to respond to the effects of daily showers and higher relative humidity.  Currently, only the Alum and Druid fires are active, with the highest amount of remaining heat in the Alum fire.

The Alum Fire, at approximately 7300 acres, is located on the ridge approximately five miles northwest of Fishing Bridge Junction. It is most active on the northeast flank about 200 yards from Grand Loop Road. Active fire can be seen from the Mud Volcano area at times, as the fire slowly moves down slope towards the road and Yellowstone River.  Visitors to the Mud Volcano area have been able to observe single tree torching, especially during the breezy afternoons of recent days.  The fire is not expected to spread in the direction of Fishing Bridge, Lake Village, or Bridge Bay, but extensive indirect control lines have been constructed to ensure the protection of these areas should the fire make an unexpected move south.  Pull-offs along the Grand Loop Road between Fishing Bridge Junction and Mud Volcano remain closed to support the temporary prohibition of backcountry travel due to bear activity and potential fire impacts in the area.

The smaller Druid Fire, located in the northeast corner of the park on Druid Peak, is being monitored with remote cameras and weather instruments, as well as aircraft.  The fire is creeping slowly into the Rose Creek drainage to the north. On Wednesday, firefighters hiked to several historic backcountry cabins in the vicinity of the fire to conduct structure assessments. Plans have been developed to protect the Buffalo Ranch and Yellowstone Institute in the unlikely event that the fire should make an unexpected move towards these facilities.

Isolated thunderstorms are forecast for Thursday. While monsoonal moisture has prevailed over the past week, a new weather pattern is expected to bring warmer, drier days with increased winds and lower relative humidity.  Both the Alum and Druid Fires will be monitored closely through this weather change, as it will certainly increase the potential for the fires to regain strength.

The three other fires in the park, the Alder, Passage, and Snake Fires continue to be monitored but have not shown any significant activity in recent days.

Impacts to visitors and area residents: All roads leading into and through the park and all visitor services including campgrounds, lodging, stores and visitor services in the park are open. Impacts from smoke have been minimal and will continue to be as long as the weather remains cool. All visitors are encouraged to check for updates often as road closures may be needed based on daily fire activity. Updated park road information is available 24-hours a day by calling 307-344-2117.


Additional information can be found on the web at:
http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/unit/5382
Twitter @YellowstoneNPS
Facebook at YellowstoneNPS
Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/yellowstonenps/sets/72157635186710997/
Yellowstone National Park Website http://www.nps.gov/yell/index.htm
Web Cams at http://www.nps.gov/yell/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm
###

8/29/13, 8:15am: Druid Complex fire statistics

Good morning! Below are the morning statistics for the Druid Complex. Not much change since yesterday--we only recorded two acres of growth on the fires.

Fire Information
Incident Type	Wildfire
Cause	Lightning
Date of Origin	8/13/2013
Location	Yellowstone National Park
Total Personnel	159
Size	11,673 acres
Estimated Containment Date	10/1/2013
Fuels Involved	The Druid Fire is burning in heavy spruce/fir; Snake Fire is burning in 1000 hour fuels; the Alum fire is burning in mature lodgepole forest; the Alder is burning in mature mixed conifer; and the Passage Fire is burning within a 1988 burn scar.
Outlook	Todays precipitation amounts varied widely across the complex. The Alum Fire received no precipitation in the last 24hrs. Creeping, smoldering and infrequent single tree torching in sheltered fuels will continue or increase although overall fire growth will be limited. Continued drying may lead to a slight increase in burned area due to increased spotting. The fires on the south end of the complex (Alder, Snake and Passage) received negligible amounts of rain in the past 24hrs over the next 12hrs fire activity is expected to be negligible. No smoke was observed on the Passage Fire; some smoke was observed on the Druid and Snake Fires. Over the past week there has been no appreciable growth on the Snake, Druid or Passage fires; this trend is expected to continue for the next 72hrs. Fire activity will increase as fuels dry out.
Planned Actions	Fire personnel will continue to implement the structural protection plan and monitor the fires within the complex.
Growth Potential	Low
Terrain Difficulty	High
Wind Conditions	W-SW, 13-16mph
Temperature	Highs of 73-77
Humidity	25-30%

8/29/13 7:00 am. Sunrise at Morning Briefing on the Druid Complex

8/28/13, 3:45pm: Incoming weather into Yellowstone National Park

An alert from the National Weather Service:

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RIVERTON WY

207 PM MDT WED AUG 28 2013

WYZ001-282200-

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK-

207 PM MDT WED AUG 28 2013

ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE DEVELOPING ACROSS YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL

PARK AS OF 2PM. THESE STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE IN COVERAGE

AND BECOME SCATTERED BETWEEN 3 AND 4 PM. THOSE WITH OUTDOOR

INTERESTS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR APPROACHING THUNDERSTORMS AND TAKE

SHELTER BEFORE THEY ARRIVE. THE STRONGEST STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF

PRODUCING FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND WIND GUSTS OVER 40 MPH AS THEY

MOVE NORTHEAST AROUND 20 MPH ACROSS YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK.

Be safe out there!

8/28/2013, 2:45pm: The makings of fireline

For you photo-philes out there, we've posted more pics on the Yellowstone Flickr account (http://www.flickr.com/photos/yellowstonenps/) of the fire and the work being done by firefighters. Most preparations for continued fire growth should be completed by the middle of next week, accomplishing the objective to protect structures in the Lake area.

A firefighter uses a self-loading log truck to remove fuels and debris
between the Alum fire and Government Camp in Lake.

8/28/13, 12:15pm: Weather conditions and fire behavior changing during the new few days

During the next 2-4 days, fire managers expect the weather to be warmer and drier, with lower relative humidity and higher temperature. We've received reports of single tree-torching on the Alum fire, seen from the Mud Volcano area. We also expect to see slightly increased fire behavior during the next couple of days and through Labor Day weekend.

What does this mean for you if you're visiting Yellowstone National Park? Possibly nothing--we expect most roads to remain open, the skies to remain relatively free of smoke, and the landscapes and geysers to be just as breathtaking as they always are.

It IS possible that a section of the Grand Loop Road will close occasionally between Hayden Valley and the Lake area if the Alum fire reaches the road and debris impacts or threatens to impact the road. Rangers & fire managers will be paying close attention to fire movement, so prepare for temporary delays as the fire nears the road. Every effort will be made to keep the road open.

Be heads-up and fire aware, and pay attention to road signage and direction from rangers. Have a great trip!

8/28/2013, 10:00am: New Maps!

Our mapping staff went the extra mile last night and made us a whole bunch of cool maps. All of the maps below show Yellowstone National Park fire history in relation to the current fires. They're all available for download.

This map shows all of the fires in the Druid Complex, and
fire history throughout the park.

This map shows the Alum fire, and
Yellowstone National Park fire history in the Lake area.

This map shows the Druid fire in the northeast corner of the park,
and fire history nearby.

8/28/13, 9:15am: Druid Complex morning update

Wednesday, August 28, 2013 – 9:00 a.m.

Overview:  Thick cloud cover moderated the activity of fires within the Druid Complex on Tuesday.  Conditions allowed fire managers to conduct an early morning infrared flight to map the perimeter of the fires using heat detection. Operations personnel also flew the fires on Tuesday afternoon to observe their behavior; only the Alum, Druid and Alder Fires were producing smoke. The Complex has reached 11,671 acres.

The forecast for Wednesday includes additional scattered thunderstorms. Conditions are expected to become warmer and drier as the holiday weekend approaches, which could lead to increased fire activity. Weather within the park can vary as summer progresses into fall, so fire managers pay close attention to the current and expected conditions to determine the best way to manage fires. 

Firefighters will continue to take advantage of favorable conditions to develop indirect firelines and implement structure protection measures that will help protect valuable resources and structures in the park, both this season and during future fire seasons.

Alum Fire: The Alum Fire (pronounced AL-umm, not ah-LUM) is located near several popular Yellowstone natural and cultural attractions including the Mud Volcano, Lake Hotel, Bridge Bay and Fishing Bridge.  It continues to be the most conspicuous fire in the park, although not as dramatic as days prior when an impressive smoke column was visible for miles. The fire is currently only visible from Grand Loop Road near the Mud Volcano geyser area, and is slowly creeping down slope towards Grand Loop Road.  There is no imminent threat that the fire will cross the Grand Loop Road. Single tree torching has been observed during the afternoon when relative humidity is lowest and winds from nearby storm cells fan flames burning under the tree canopy.

Recent aerial infrared observations prove that the fire is still holding heat in several areas, especially the flank visible from Mud Volcano.  Up to .3 inches of rain has fallen onto the fire in the past week, however, no rain was recorded for the past two days, allowing Alum’s potential to persist.  The current monsoonal flow that produced recent showers in the Yellowstone region is expected to give way to a dryer weather pattern over the Labor Day weekend.  This change will bring increased risk of the fire gaining momentum and perhaps approaching the roadway just north of Fishing Bridge junction.  Public Information Officers have been posted at the newly reopened Mud Volcano area, and excited tourists from around the world were briefed on Yellowstone’s unique fire ecology and fire management strategy all the while in view of the smoky flanks of the Alum.

The pullouts along a six-mile stretch between Fishing Bridge and Mud Volcano must remain closed, as backcountry travel in the areas in the fire’s predicted path are not currently safe.  The closures affect LeHardy rapids, as well as several picnic areas and trails along this stretch of the river.  Other nearby trails are open including Pelican Creek Nature Trail, Natural Bridge, Lake Village to Bridge Bay Trail, and the Lake Lodge Meadows Trail. 

An indirect fireline is nearing completion between the fire and the Lake government housing area, with two to four log trucks hauling material throughout the workday.  An excavator and dump trucks have also arrived to help remove slash from the site in order to ensure a clean, fireproof barrier.  Work also continues on the Bridge Bay indirect fireline improvements, wrapping up Wednesday afternoon.  The work will help ensure that park facilities will not be affected by the fire’s potential advancement to the south.

Druid Fire: The Druid Fire is located on the north side of Druid Peak. Fire activity was minimal on Tuesday as it continues to back slowly down into the Rose Creek drainage area.  The Beartooth Highway, the scenic high elevation portion of US-212 linking Red Lodge, Montana, with the communities of Cooke City and Silver Gate, Montana, and the northeast entrance to Yellowstone National Park, is open to visitor travel.

The data from a Remote Access Weather Station (RAWS) system placed near Druid Fire Tuesday, and other weather stations near the Druid Complex, can be viewed at http://raws.wrh.noaa.gov/roman/fire.html.  Placement of the RAWS and remote camera have provided a safer way to monitor the fire, reducing the amount of exposure to hazardous conditions for the four firefighters that had worked in the fire area. 

Structure protection planning and preparations are underway at Buffalo Ranch and the Yellowstone Institute in case the fire advances east towards Grand Loop Road and Pebble Creek Campground.

Impacts to visitors and area residents: All roads leading into and through the park and all visitor services including campgrounds, lodging, stores and visitor services in the park are open. Impacts from smoke have been minimal and will continue to be as long as the weather remains cool. All visitors are encouraged to check for updates often as road closures may be needed based on daily fire activity. Updated park road information is available 24-hours a day by calling 307-344-2117.

Additional information can be found on the web at:

www.druidcomplex.blogspot.com

http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/unit/5382

Recorded Fire Information Line 307-344-2580

Email us at Yellowstone.fire.info@gmail.com

Follow us on Twitter @YellowstoneNPS

Find us on Facebook at YellowstoneNPS

View fire photos on Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/yellowstonenps/sets/72157635186710997/ 

Yellowstone National Park Website http://www.nps.gov/yell/index.htm

Web Cams at http://www.nps.gov/yell/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm

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8/28/13, 7:30am: Druid Complex fire statistics

Good morning! Check out our latest stats on the Druid Complex in Yellowstone National Park.

Fire Information
Incident Type	Wildfire
Cause	Lightning
Date of Origin	8/13/2013
Location	Yellowstone National Park
Total Personnel	161
Size	11,671 acres
Estimated Containment Date	10/1/2013
Fuels Involved	The Druid Fire is burning in heavy spruce/fir; Snake Fire is burning in 1000 hour fuels; the Alum fire is burning in mature lodgepole forest; the Alder is burning in mature mixed conifer; and the Passage Fire is burning within a 1988 burn scar.
Outlook	Todays precipitation amounts varied widely across the complex. The Alum Fire received no precipitation in the last 24hrs. Creeping, smoldering and infrequent single tree torching in sheltered fuels will continue; overall fire growth will be limited. The fires on the south end of the complex (Alder, Snake and Passage) received negligible amounts of rain in the past 24hrs over the next 12hrs fire activity is expected to be negligible. No smoke was observed on the Snake and Passage Fires; some smoke was observed on the Druid Fire. Over the past week there has been no appreciable growth on the Snake, Druid or Passage fires; this trend is expected to continue for the next 72hrs. Fire activity will be minimal until fuels dry out.
Planned Actions	Fire personnel will continue to implement the structural protection plan and monitor the fires within the complex.
Growth Potential	Low
Terrain Difficulty	High
Current Weather	Chance of showers and thunderstorms in the morning, followed by clearing in the afternoon.
Wind Conditions	W-SW, 12-15mph
Temperature	Highs of 70-75
Humidity	28-32%

8/27/13, 7:00pm: Another beautiful day in Yellowstone

8/27/13, 6:15pm: Perfect weather near fishing bridge!

Several people have called to ask about the air quality near the fire area. Here are some pictures that were taken on Monday near Fishing Bridge that are representative of what we have been seeing. A much simpler way to phrase all that is "Come on in! The air's fine." Please remember, we can only report the conditions as we don't control the smoke or the weather. We hope to see you soon here in beautiful Yellowstone National Park.

The picture doesn't do justice to how this really looked. You'll just have to come see for yourself and enjoy it in person.

A little isolated smoke in the air, a lot of visability,
 and great weather these past few days.

8/27/13, 11:00am: Latest Druid Complex maps

For those of us who love maps here you go!

Druid Complex overview map


Alum Fire map


Druid Fire map

8/27/13, 9:15am: Druid Complex Fire News Update

Overview:  The cooler temperatures and increased humidity that accompanied scattered thunderstorms in the park on Monday, resulted in another day of moderated fire behavior. Pockets of clear skies allowed fire managers to conduct an infrared flight in the early hours of Monday morning which showed minimal spread by the Alum and Druid fires over the past week. The total fire acreage for the complex is approximately 11,671 acres.Weather conditions allowed fire managers to fly the fires again on Monday afternoon; all were producing some smoke with the exception of the Passage Fire. The forecast for Tuesday includes more scattered thunderstorms.

There remains a chance for the weather to turn hotter and drier in the coming weeks, which could lead to an increase in fire activity. Firefighters continue to develop indirect firelines and implement structure protection measures as part of preparations to protect valuable resources and structures in the park.

Crews have begun collecting fuel moisture samples, which are a measure of the amount of water found in vegetation in the forest, to help determine how the fires might behave in the coming weeks. The fires will likely continue to play their part in the natural processes of maintaining the unique ecosystems found in Yellowstone into the fall.

Alum Fire: The Alum Fire (pronounced AL-umm, not ah-LUM) is located in the heart of the park, just west of the section of the Grand Loop Road between Canyon Village and Fishing Bridge. The fire continues to be visible from the road and from Mud Volcano as it works its way slowly east towards the Grand Loop Road. Firefighters and the public were able to see occasional torching - when fire runs up a single tree or group of trees.

Despite several consecutive days of cloud cover and rain, the northeast and southern edges of the fire continue to retain heat. It was fairly active today and produced smoke that was visible behind Mud Volcano. There is no imminent threat that the fire will cross the Grand Loop Road, and the road remains open, but travelers may encounter light smoke on the road. As of Monday afternoon, approximately 200 yards remained between the edge of the fire and the road. Public Information Officers will be available at Mud Volcano on Tuesday to help share information about the fire’s activity and answer questions.

While LeHardy Rapids, and several picnic areas and pullouts, as well as some backcountry trails in the area remain closed, other popular trails in the area remain open including Pelican Creek Nature Trail, Natural Bridge, Lake Village to Bridge Bay Trail, and the Lake Lodge Meadows Trail.

Skidders will continue to work on Tuesday to transport trees and other debris that were removed to create a fuel break between the fire and the Lake government housing area. Three to four loads a day are being hauled to a stacking area south of Bridge Bay. Visitors should be aware of increased truck traffic on the section of Grand Loop Road south of the housing area. Work continued to widen the contingency line northwest of Bridge Bay, scraping away ground fuels and linking several meadows together, forming an indirect line to stop potential spread southward.

Druid Fire: The Druid Fire is located high above the Northeast Entrance road on the north side of Druid Peak. The fire remained fairly quiet on Monday with only a little heat and smoke on the northern edge where it continues to back slowly downslope towards the Rose Creek drainage area. 

The Remote Access Weather Station (RAWS) system will be installed Tuesday to help fire managers monitor weather in the fire area. This information will assist crews as they continue to scout for potential places to hold the fire if it becomes more active and moves east toward Grand Loop Road and Pebble Creek Campground.  A remote camera was placed in the fire area to allow for safer, remote monitoring.

Impacts to visitors and area residents: All roads leading into and through the park and all visitor services including campgrounds, lodging, stores and visitor services in the park are open. Impacts from smoke have been minimal and will continue to be as long as the weather remains cool. All visitors are encouraged to check for updates often as road closures may be needed based on daily fire activity. Updated park road information is available 24-hours a day by calling 307-344-2117.

Additional information can be found on the web at:

www.druidcomplex.blogspot.com

http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/unit/5382

Recorded Fire Information Line 307-344-2580

Email us at Yellowstone.fire.info@gmail.com

Follow us on Twitter @YellowstoneNPS

Find us on Facebook at YellowstoneNPS

View fire photos on Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/yellowstonenps/sets/72157635186710997/

Yellowstone National Park Website http://www.nps.gov/yell/index.htm

Web Cams at http://www.nps.gov/yell/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm

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 For a PDF version of this update click HERE

8/27/13 8:10 am: Latest Druid Complex Statistics

Good morning from beautiful Yellowstone National Park! Below are the latest statistics from the Druid Complex.

Fire Information
Incident Type	Wildfire
Cause	Lightning
Date of Origin	8/13/2013
Location	Yellowstone National Park
Total Personnel	245
Size	11,671 acres
Estimated Containment Date	10/1/2013
Fuels Involved	The Druid Fire is burning in heavy spruce/fir; Snake Fire is burning in 1000 hour fuels; the Alum fire is burning in mature lodgepole forest; the Alder is burning in mature mixed conifer; and the Passage Fire is burning within a 1988 burn scar.
Outlook	Todays precipitation amounts varied widely across the complex. The Alum Fire received no precipitation in the last 24hrs. Creeping, smoldering and infrequent single tree torching in sheltered fuels will continue; overall fire growth will be limited. The fires on the south end of the complex (Alder, Snake and Passage) received negligible amounts of rain in the past 24hrs over the next 12hrs fire activity is expected to be negligible. No smoke was observed on the Snake and Passage Fires; some smoke was observed on the Druid Fire. Over the past week there has been no appreciable growth on the Snake, Druid or Passage fires; this trend is expected to continue for the next 72hrs. Fire activity will be minimal until fuels dry out.
Planned Actions	Fire personnel will continue to implement the structural protection plan and monitor the fires within the complex.
Growth Potential	Low
Terrain Difficulty	High
Current Weather	Chance of showers and thunderstorms in the morning, followed by clearing in the afternoon.
Wind Conditions	S-SW 5 to 10
Temperature	Highs of 70-75
Humidity	35-40%

8/26/13, 5:15pm: Views of Alum Fire from Mud Volcano

Views of the Alum Fire from Mud Volcano, taken between 2pm and 5pm:

8/26/2013, 3:30pm: Afternoon fire update

Firefighters continue to make progress protecting structures and resources. After a few days of hard work, they've finished removing fuels near Government Camp in the Lake area. They'll continue working to build hand line, monitor existing fires, and develop structure protection plans.

Fire managers flew over the fires again today, and observed smoke rising from the Alum, Alder, Druid, and Snake fires. We've also heard reports of single tree-torchings that can be seen from Mud Volcano. This was expected--fire behavior has been minimal today, and will likely be so for the foreseeable future.

All roads leading to and through the park are open. Labor Day Weekend is coming up--if you haven't made vacation plans, consider Yellowstone National Park!

8/26/13, 2:00pm: Two new pages with fire information

We've added two new pages to our blog to help you follow the Druid Complex. On our maps page, we've posted our most up-to-date fire maps. We'll keep adding new maps at the top as they come in. On our videos page, we're going to post short videos of fire managers discussing tactics and strategy. Our first video features Bill Hahnenberg, Druid Complex Incident Commander.

8/26/13, 11:30am: Smoke Information for Yellowstone National Park visitors

We've received a couple of questions and comments about air quality in the park. We addressed the issue yesterday in our post here; we'll continue to talk about air quality as long as we're getting questions and the fires are burning.

Right now, the air quality in the park is really good. There is one area of Highway 98 (between Hayden Valley and Fishing Bridge) where the smoke from the Alum fire sits a little bit. You can see it (and smell it!) as you drive through. We haven't received any complaints, or heard of any medical issues related to the smoke. From where we sit at our incident command post, the skies are clear, with a couple of puffy rain clouds in the distance.

We've posted a few air quality links that you can check if you're the kind of person who likes data. On the right side of the blog, under "Smoke Information," we've linked to various air monitoring stations around the park, as well as national weather and air quality information.

As always, you can email or call if you've got questions.

8/26/13, 10:45am: New Maps!

Good news! The skies were finally clear enough last night for our pilots to fly and do some infared imaging. Below are the latest perimeters. The sizes of the fires haven't changed much, but it sure is good to have new maps!

Map of the Alum Fire, west of the Lake area in Yellowstone National Park.
Imagine taken the evening of 8/25/13. Click map for larger image.

Map of the Druid Fire, in the northeast corner of Yellowstone National Park.
Imagine taken the evening of 8/26/2013. Click map for larger image.

8/26/13 8:45 am: Druid Complex Fire Update

Fire Information Line (307)242-7422

Recorded Fire Update (307)344-2580
Email Yellowstone.fire.info@gmail.com

Overview:  Fire activity within the Druid Complex was minimal on Sunday and similar fire behavior is expected to continue Monday. Monday’s forecast includes a high of 70 degrees with light winds. The fires continue to smolder and slowly creep in large timber with flames occasionally torching a tree or small group of trees.  However, if the weather turns hotter and drier there is a chance fire activity could increase.  Firefighters are continuing efforts to scout and create contingency firelines to protect valuable resources and structures. The total fire acreage for the complex remains at 11,658 acres.

Fires have a place in the ecosystem at Yellowstone.  Many plants are actually adapted to thrive with fire.  For example, heat from fires helps melt the resin that seals the serotinous cones of lodgepole pines, allowing their seeds to disperse and grow in the forest.

Alum Fire: The Alum Fire (pronounced AL-umm, not ah-LUM) is located in the heart of the park, just west of the section of the Grand Loop Road between Canyon Village and Fishing Bridge.  Just a few hundred yards west of the road, the fire continues to back slowly downslope through a forested area, thick with large and downed timber.

Mud Volcano, a popular destination in the park, reopened on Sunday afternoon. LeHardy Rapids, and several picnic areas and pullouts, as well as some backcountry trails in the area remain closed. Some trails visitors can enjoy in the area include Pelican Creek Nature Trail, Natural Bridge, Lake Village to Bridge Bay Trail, and the Lake Lodge Meadows Trail.

The feller bunchers (mechanized tree removal equipment) working west of the Lake government housing area, have finished creating defensible space near those structures and under the powerline. Skidders are loading and hauling the vegetation that was removed to a stacking area south of Bridge Bay. Visitors should be aware of increased truck traffic on the section of Grand Loop Road south of the housing area.

Crews will continue building a contingency line northwest of Bridge Bay on Monday. This line, created in preparation for the potential spread of the fire, links several meadows and will end at an area burned by the Arnica Fire in 2009. Work under the powerline was completed and power has been restored to the Bridge Bay area.

Crews have also completed protection work around power poles between Mud Volcano and Fishing Bridge where the fire is closest to the road.

Druid Fire: The Druid Fire is located high above the Northeast Entrance road on the north side of Druid Peak. This fire remained quiet on Sunday with little activity.  A remote camera has been successfully placed in the fire area to monitor its activity. A link to photos, taken every 30 minutes by the camera, will be available soon on druidcomplex.blogspot.com.

A wildland fire module continues to scout the area to identify potential locations for indirect firelines should the fire advance east towards the Grand Loop Road and Pebble Creek Campground. Structure protection assessments are being conducted at the Lamar Ranger Station. Crews are also working on a structure protection plan for the Yellowstone Institute.

The Alder, Snake and Passage fires are inactive.

Impacts to visitors and area residents: All roads leading into and through the park and all visitor services including campgrounds, lodging, stores and visitor services in the park are open. Impacts from smoke have been minimal and will continue to be as long as the weather is cool. All visitors are encouraged to check for updates often as road closures may be needed based on daily fire activity. Updated park road information is available 24-hours a day by calling 307-344-2117.

Additional information can be found on the web at:
www.druidcomplex.blogspot.com
http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/unit/5382
Recorded Fire Information Line 307-344-2580
Email us at Yellowstone.fire.info@gmail.com
Follow us on Twitter @YellowstoneNPS
Find us on Facebook at YellowstoneNPS
View fire photos on Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/yellowstonenps/sets/72157635186710997/
Yellowstone National Park Website http://www.nps.gov/yell/index.htm
Web Cams at http://www.nps.gov/yell/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm


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For a PDF of this update click here.