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:
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@YellowstoneNPS
Facebook at
YellowstoneNPS
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