The Park’s news service has just released this update on 4 new fires sparked by a thunderstorm yesterday afternoon….

Four new fires are near Yellowstone Lake were discovered late Thursday after a thunderstorm passed over the area.

One lightning caused fire was discovered in the Columbine Creek drainage, 7 miles southwest of Sylvan Pass.  Because of the fire’s location, fuel conditions, and topography, the park called in West Yellowstone Smokejumpers this morning to start containment efforts on the Columbine 2 Fire.   This fire is actively burning and by late morning was estimated at 20 acres.

Lightning strikes also started three small fires on The Promontory, a large peninsula jutting into the southern end of Yellowstone Lake.  The peninsula, covered with a mature lodgepole pine and spruce-fir forest, is surrounded by water.  The three Promontory Fires will be actively managed together as a Wildland Fire Use for Resource Benefit, since the fire is good for the ecosystem an poses no threat to people or property.  Each of the fires is currently estimated at one-tenth of an acre.

The Beaverdam Fire has been burning in deep in the backcountry south and east of the new fire starts since July 22.  Cooler weather and occasional rain has kept fire activity low in recent days.  Firefighters continue to staff the fire on the ground and monitor its activity from fire lookouts and from the air.   It remains estimated at 748 acres.

The Owl Fire in the park’s northwest corner is now considered to be over 90 percent contained.  Park firefighters continue to reinforce, mop up and patrol the fire line.  There are some unburned trees inside the perimeter of the Owl Fire.

As always we’re very appreciative of the efforts of the smoke jumpers and other fire fighting guys and gals when they’re called in to work a fire.  Looks like there are some scattered showers forming up along the western edge and southwest corner of the Park as we pen this at 1421 MDT.  There does not appear to any pending impact on fisheries at this point. 

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