Links to the latest updates and information about fires in Yellowstone and Yellowstone Country. Spon
Some good news across the area!
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK — Holiday visitors braved a potent spring storm over the weekend that prompted on-and-off road closures and helped bolster moisture levels throughout the region.
Good website to bookmark for all western states fire information
Current hours for the National Fire Information Center are (MST) 8:00 am - 4:30pm, Monday - Friday 208-387-5050 This report will be updated on Fridays.
Normal wildfire season predicted for now
GREAT FALLS, Mont. (AP) — An official with the Northern Rockies Coordination Center says forecasters for now are expecting a normal wildfire season
On behalf of the National Park Service Intermountain Region (IMR), Grand Teton National Park Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott and Bridger-Teton National Forest Supervisor Jacque Buchanan presented Teton Interagency Fire employees with awards for excellence in fire management. Grand Teton National Park Assistant Fire Management Officer Mack McFarland received the IMR Interagency Fire Management Leadership Award and Martha Williamson, Teton Interagency fire planner, received the IMR Fire Management Achievement Award
Teton Interagency Fire Employees Receive 2010 Regional Awards
Yellowstone Fire Update's cover photo
Melt is much faster than last two years in SW Montana at this time. Cycle-only season has already opened from the West Entrance of Yellowstone Park weeks earlier than in recent years. Hoping for a wet, rainy spring season.
Photo of snow plowing at Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park.
Yellowstone County Montana is located in the south central part of the state around the Billings area.
As we begin March and head into spring, fire officials remind us Yellowstone County is about to see a lot of controlled burns.
Interested in what is happening with flooding in your area this spring??Did you know that you can sign up for "water alerts" Real-time data from USGS gages are transmitted via satellite or other telemetry to USGS offices at various intervals; in most cases, once every 1 or 4 hours. Emergency transmissions, such as during floods, may be more frequent. Notifications will be based on the data received at these site-dependent intervals. Pick your geographic area
USGS WaterAlert
Grizzly bears beginning to stir east of Yellowstone Park
WAPITI, Wyo. -- Reports of grizzly bear sightings at lower elevations east of Yellowstone National Park have begun to trickle in to wildlife officials, and food storage regulations on several national forests went into effect on Thursday.
Yellowstone's hot water may be from single source
A team from the U.S. Geological Survey recently dove into the question of just where Yellowstone's water comes from. Their findings indicate that the region — and its variety of geysers, mud pots and hydrothermal pools — could be supplied by a single water source that continuously boils, mixes and f...
Snowpack totals climbing in Yellowstone Park
CODY, Wyo. -- Snowfall this winter across Yellowstone National Park remains slightly behind last year's record pace, but meteorologists warn
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks :: Madison River Management Plan
Madison River Recreation Planning
Last Kids'N'Snow program weekend in West Yellowstone for this winter!
The last Kids'N'Snow Weekend in West Yellowstone will March 2-4th, 2012. This weekend features cross country ski games at the Youth Ski Festival on Sunday and kids ski races included in the Rendezvous Race on Saturday. There is another Kid's Ice Fishing Camp. Bring your pole & practice with local instructors. Snowshoeing, the "Yellowstone" movie at the IMAX, Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Programs, and another Saturday night S'mores & Skating. This is your LAST chance of this winter for Kids'N'Snow
SNOW WATER EQUIVALENT - The water equivalent of snow is the depth of water that would be obtained by melting the snow cover. Water equivalent of snow is continuously measured (weighed) by recording gages which are winterized with an antifreeze solution. For non-recording gages, the snow catch collected by the standard rain gage (with the funnel and small tube removed) is melted by adding a known amount of warm water. The total amount is then measured and the added amount of warm water subtracted to yield the observed water equivalent. Most snow water equivalent measurement errors are associated with not selecting a representative location or the mechanics of subtracting water added to the total catch.
Interesting article about Yellowstone. Have you ever heard the music????
Some Yellowstone National Park visitors have reported hearing odd sounds in the skies above Yellowstone Lake on clear days in the early mornings.
Did you know that West Yellowstone is home to a smoke jumper base? Here's some info about it.
WYIFC is located two miles north of the Yellowstone National Park Gateway community of West Yellowstone, MT, 90 miles south of Bozeman, MT and 100 miles northeast of Idaho Falls, Idaho. The base was established in 1951 at the old airport just west of town and then moved to its present location in 19...
Looking for a great last minute tax-deductible donation? This is a great program based in West Yellowstone, staffed by dedicated volunteers, former smoke jumpers and forest service employees, and smoke jumpers from around the US when they can help out. Last summer, these volunteers spent 12+hour days working to move these original ranger buildings, build foundations, and still run the program. They need our help to finish the buildings so we can spend even more time on education. Every dollar, every hour helps!
The West Yellowstone Environmental Education Center, operated by the non-profit National Smokejumper Center, is dedicated to inspiring American youth and their parents to reconnect to the outdoors.
Long-range forecasts for Montana. The three-month outlook for March-April-May is calling for EC or Equal Chances (or near normal) conditions. This time period leads into the wet season for Montana starting with good spring wet snow storms in late March and early April followed by the rainy season in May and June.
Future challenges? Looking farther ahead in the June-July-August time period as well as the July-August-September time period the weather pattern is expected to turn to a warmer than normal and a drier than normal trend according the CPC.
Above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation during the hottest time of the year could lead to a bad fire season across the state, especially if current weather trends continue with below normal snowpack extending into May.
The National Climate Prediction Center updated their seasonal outlooks and there are some alarming trends for Montana this Spring and Summer.
We've been hibernating over the winter, but now we're back with the latest updates about fire management, water and fire conditions, flooding, travel and road updates, and more for southwestern Montana, Yellowstone Park, and major travel routes!
With increasing moisture and decerasing temp's, the fire season is coming to a close here in Montana. Latest fire closure areas map.
The National Smokejumper Center needs your help! The retired FS workers & volunteers have worked hard all summer moving several historic forest service buildings from their old location (land being sold) to their new location at the east end of the West Yellowstone Visitor Center Parking lot. This work was done through hundreds of hours of personally donated time & materials while still putting on Junior Smokejumper Classes for hundreds of kids this summer. The NSJC now has to raise $17,000 in additional unanticipated costs for sewer/water hookups. If you can help (any amount no matter how small), just send it to PO Box 264 , West Yellowstone MT 59758.Let's keep this great program going for all kids! www.smokejumpercenter.org
Help support our friends at the Avalanche Center.They issue daily reports,ride & ski the back country in SW Montana to keep us all informed & safe. This is their big fundraiser event on Oct 8th. Click on the link to get all the details!
Get Your Tickets Here! or buy them at Northern Lights Trading Company, Timber Trails (Livingston) or Grizzly Outfitters (Big Sky).
MONTANA: Puzzle Fire Update (9/27) Puzzle Fire Complex consists of 1) Puzzle Fire, and 2) Square Fire, both caused by lightning on Sept. 9, 2011. Puzzle Fire is burning south of Bullshoe Mtn, into Crescent Creek, and it has crossed the Continental Divide and is now in the head of Pool and Kip Creeks. The fire burned actively over the past 3 days primarily on the Flathead National Forest. The active burning was on the northwestern portion of the fire.
Square Fire is located near Square Mtn, at Lat/Long: 48 13.27, -113 18.30. This fire is 1 acre in size. Firefighters are protecting values at risk in this area, including in the Badger Two Medicine, & implementing a long term response plan consistent with a confine and contain strategy. Structure protection for cabins and bridges is in place. Firefighter and public safety is of the highest priority.
Fire Closures: Most of the area, trail , and road closures have been lifted. However, the Skyland Road #569 past Morrison Trailhead remains closed to ATV traffic. Morrison Trailhead and Trail #154 is OPEN to public use.
MONTANA: Bitterroot National Forest-41 Complex Fire Update (9/27)The Up Top Fire was pushed to the north and east by 25 mph winds yesterday and grew by another 1,100 acres. The fire is one of three burning in the 41 Complex in the Sapphire Mountains approximately 8 miles east of Hamilton. Over the weekend, the Up Top fire grew to 10,792 acres and continued to burn actively on both sides of Skalkaho Highway. Smoke from the fire was visible this weekend in the valley.
Fire crews reported single and group tree torching and short range spotting of up to a half mile yesterday. Late in the day, as temperatures reached near record highs with single digit humidity's, the fire spotted over the top of the ridge onto the Beaverhead Deerlodge National Forest, northeast of Dam Lake. Most of the activity over the weekend occurred on the north side of the fire above Skalkaho Highway and to the east of Dam Lake.
Two helicopters dropped 56,200 gallons of water on hot spots along the Skalkaho Highway corridor yesterday. The helicopters are using a 5,000 gallon portable water tank set up on the highway as their main water source. So far, aircraft have dropped more than 500,000 gallons of water and approximately 100,000 gallons of retardant on the 41 Complex fires.
Skalkaho Highway remains closed between mile posts 13 and 26 and fire crews continue to clear hazard trees, burning and rolling debris, and rocks which are falling from the fire area onto the highway - when it is safe to do so. The area closure around the Up Top and 41 fires remains in place. Railroad Creek Road # 711 and the Butterfly Road # 364 remain closed.
On the ground this week, firefighters will continue to mop-up on the western perimeter nearest private lands. Along with patrolling and extinguishing hot spots, they will also be doing fire line rehabilitation and constructing water bars to prevent erosion. Firefighter safety remains a concern due to steep, rugged terrain, large areas of snags from previous fires, rolling rocks and debris and hot stump holes. The weather forecast calls for cooler temperatures this week with a slight chance of showers. Overnight, approximately .06 inches of rain were recorded at Gird Point Lookout on the Up Top fire.
The Coyote Meadows and Fox Peak fires remain unstaffed. The Fox Peak fire grew by approximately 20 acres over the weekend to 298 acres. Last week, the area closure around the Coyote Meadows fire was lifted opening Skalkaho Rye Road #75, Barnett Meadows, Moose Meadows and Trail # 87.
Small new Yellowstone Park FIRE: Headwaters & General Park Update
MONTANA - Flathead Natl Forest - UPPER AYRES (9/21): trace of precipitation fell on the Stadler Creek and Upper Ayres fires Sunday afternoon, having little effect on the fires. No significant addition in acreage was noted. Cool temperatures, increased moisture, and shortened days do seem to be bringing growth potential down. However, the fires continue to be closely monitored.
MONTANA Stadler Creek Fire (9/21): Opening Fiction Creek and Ayres Creek 9/21/2011. Stadler/Hoadley is still closed for public access.
Cooler nights and last week's moist weather pattern over the area has lessened the severe threat posed by wildfires. Even though the recent restrictions will be lifted, public lands users are advised to maintain vigilance when extinguishing campfires and while smoking in the outdoors. Campfires should be cold to the touch before they can be safely left unattended and carelessly disposed of ci******es can easily ignite wildfires.
MONTANA: 41 Complex
Stage I Fire Restrictions Rescinded in West-Central Montana (9/21) but remain on Tribal Lands along the Flathead River
The counties of Flathead, Lake, Mineral, Missoula, Powell, Ravalli, Sanders, Granite, Deer Lodge, and Silver Bow will also rescind Stage I restrictions, but people interested in burning debris within those counties must check with their local authorities regarding open burning regulation
WYOMING- RED ROCK FIRE (9/22) With frosts occuring overnight, grass fuels will become more available to burn. It is very important to stay informed of the current and expected weather conditions, the fire activity in the areas you will be traveling in. In areas that appear cold after the fire has passed through, other hazards may exist such as snags, falling trees, open flames and smoke, which may reduce visibility.
Update from YELLOWSTONE PARK on HEART COMPLEX (9/16): Six fires which continue to burn in the backcountry of Yellowstone National Park are being managed as the Heart Complex. By far the largest of the six is the Point Fire, on the eastern shore of Yellowstone Lake. It has grown slowly in recent days and is now estimated at 1,800 acres. Activity on the northeast corner of the fire, close to the site of 2003’s East Fire, has resulted in a significant amount of smoke over Yellowstone Lake and portions of the East Entrance road in recent
days. Crews continue to monitor the fire and provide protection for the
Clear Creek Cabin. The Thorofare Trail remains closed from the Nine Mile
Trailhead to one mile south of the fire area.
The Trischman Fire, 6 miles southwest of Old Faithful, was declared
controlled Friday at just under 6 acres.Four other small fires, the Gibbon, Ouzel, Huckleberry and Pitchstone 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.
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.
WYOMING: NORTON POINT FIRE (9/16) for the weekend! Fire activity has been minimal due to cooler, wetter weather. The same conditions are expected this weekend, with a short drying trend predicted for next week.The area closure and use restrictions remain in effect for your safety.
Hazardous conditions exist in recently burned areas. Conditions change quickly in a burned forest - be alert to your surroundings. Check the weather forecast before you head to the woods and let someone know your plans. For your safety, be aware of these dangers, including: Ash and needles on the trails can make trails slippery. The ground may be weak and unstable around burned out stump holes.Dead trees can be unstable, especially in windy conditions. Watch for rolling debris, like loose rocks and logs. Flash flooding and mudflows can occur, especially in areas without vegetation. During the daytime, a fire information officer is stationed at the intersection of Bear Creek and East Fork roads. You can get the latest information about fire activity and area restrictions at this location.
WYOMING: Bridger-Teton Natl Forest RED ROCK COMPLEX (9/16) The Red Rock Complex includes the Red Rock Fire and the Gray Hills Fire. A 25 MPH speed limit has been posted for the Gros Ventre Road to provide for public and firefighter safety. The road is narrow at points, and there are steep drop offs in areas. Please drive with caution, pull off the road when stopping, and think twice before passing other vehicles. There are many vehicles on the road, and dust, smoke, and rain may impact visibility. Roads may be slick when wet. Please visit this site for updates and or call 307-739-5527.
MONTANA: Bitteroot Natl Forest 41 COMPLEX (9/16): 374 people are assigned to the fire, including 10 crews, 13 engines, 3 helicopters, 4 water tenders, 3 feller bunchers, one skidgeon, and 3 dozers.Passage of a cold front this afternoon is expected to bring increased winds with gusts of up to 25 mph over the fire area. In expectation of critical fire weather conditions, firefighters will focus on strengthening existing firelines on the west side of the fire. Cost to date: $3.4 million.
IDAHO: Salmon-Challis Natl Forest SADDLE COMPLEX (9/16) Some positive news! The high pressure weather system left yesterday. Strong gusty winds did not materialize. Clouds, cooler temperatures, light winds and a higher relative humidity limited active fire behavior to single and group torching trees in some areas and a short uphill run through tree crowns. Most of the fire activity consisted of slowly moving surface fire. Last night, the area surrounding the fire received between 0.3 inch and 0.66 inch of rain.
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