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Yellowstone National Park officials report the East Entrance Road is once again open full time. US Highway 191 is open with reduced speeds. All visitor facilities in the park are open, other than those closed for the season.
Until further notice, the East Entrance Road will be fully open 24 hours a day starting today, September 02. There will be no stopping along a 16 mile stretch of the road, and visitors are cautioned to follow the lower speed limits and watch out for smoky conditions and firefighters along the road. The road could close again at any time if smoke or fire conditions make travel unsafe.
U.S. Highway 191 remains open with reduced speeds and possible pilot car escorts through the area affected by the Rathbone Fire.
Following is information on active Yellowstone fires:
Rathbone Fire : This fire was started by lightning on August 20 in the Gallatin National Forest just outside the west boundary of the park. The size is estimated to be 3,010 acres. A Type 2 incident management team is in place to manage the fire. For information on the Rathbone Fire, please call: 406-646-0643.
Union Fire: This fire is still around 800 acres in size. It is being closely watched and is managed in a confinement strategy. Remote weather stations are in place. It will continue to be monitored from the air.
There have been a total of 74 fires during the 2003 fire season - 7 human caused and 67 lightning caused.
Backcountry trails currently closed due to fire activity include some trailheads along the East Entrance Road. The Beula Lake and Union Falls Trails are closed, and the west ends of Bighorn, Fawn Pass, Fan Creek, Sportsman Lake are closed. Daly and Black Butte trails are open for day use only. Visitors using the backcountry are asked to call the backcountry office at: 307-344-2160 for specific trail closure information and other possible restrictions.
Today's weather forecast calls for partly cloudy skies with high temperatures from 67 - 75 degrees, with minimum relative humidity at 26 percent. Winds will be upslope/upvalley at 5 - 9 mph, becoming northwest at 10 mph late in the afternoon with ridge top winds from the east around 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon. The extended forecast calls for mostly clear weather with highs in the 70s.
Stringent 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.
Daily fire updates will be issued only if there is a significant change in fire activity or road status.
Information provided by the NPS
Comments or Suggestions are Welcome. Send To: John@Yellowstone-Natl-Park.Com. Thank You!
East and Grizzly Fires: A Yellowstone National Park Type 3 team is once again managing these fires, which are still active and have the potential to spread once again with dry, warmer weather continuing. Mop-up and rehabilitation are progressing well. Helicopter bucket drops will continue on hot spots. The current size estimate of the two fires combined is still 23,500 acres, with 85% containment. Resources include 65 personnel (two type 2 crews), 2 medium helicopters, and 2 engines. For information on these two fires, please call: 307-344-2255.
There have been no new fire starts in Yellowstone in the past several days.