Yellowstone National Park officials report minimal fire activity during the early portion of the season. However, with recent lightning strikes occurring in and around the park and continuing warm weather, fire activity has increased. No new fire starts were reported on July 17. Following is information on each of Yellowstone's current wildland fires:

Baker's Hole Fire: This human-caused fire started approximately 6 miles north of West Yellowstone, east of Highway 191 on the Gallatin National Forest on July 5, and burned to the northeast into Yellowstone National Park. The 506-acre fire was controlled on July 11 and continues to be monitored by Gallatin National Forest crews.

Fan Fire: This lightning-caused fire is located in the northwest section of the park in 1988 burn. As of July 17, this fire has been converted to a suppression fire. Due to continued hot, dry and windy conditions, holding actions have already been taken, with some line constructed around the fire to reduce the potential spread of the fire into unburned fuels. On a July 17 flight, a hot spot was found outside the line that was established on July 16. On July 17, a two-person helitack initial attack crew was sent to put out the spot fire. The fire is estimated at approximately 3 acres.

Amethyst Fire: This lightning-caused fire was located in the northeast section of the park near Amethyst Mountain and Specimen Ridge and was reported by the Mt. Washburn lookout on July 15. This fire is being suppressed due to dry conditions and the potential of spread. A Gallatin National Forest crew of 20, along with Yellowstone National Park support and overhead teams, were placed on the fire July 17th and will continue to line the fire and catch spot fires. Helicopter bucket drops will be continued as needed and additional resources are arriving today. The Specimen Ridge Trail is closed from the junction with the Agate Creek Trail to the Lamar River due to the fire. The fire is currently estimated at 200 acres.

Bison Fire: This lightning-caused fire is located in the northeast section of the park west of Elk Tongue near Bison Peak about one-quarter mile from the park's north boundary. The fire probably started on July 15 and was located on July 16. Because of dry conditions, the decision was made to suppress this fire. Five smokejumpers were placed on the fire and were able to establish a line and contain the fire on July 16. The fire is estimated at one-half acre; park staff is continuing to monitor this fire.

Yellowstone Fire Management policy requires that all human-caused fires be suppressed but that natural fires be allowed to burn as long as they do not threaten people, property or resource values. Before any wildland fire is allowed to burn, however, it must be carefully evaluated and meet an inventory of pre-established criteria (including current and forecasted weather and wind conditions, fuel moisture levels, site location data, and sufficient resources). If all criteria are not met on a daily basis, the fire must be reassessed to determine whether it will still be allowed to burn or if it must be immediately suppressed. With the current dry conditions in the park and the lack of any new moisture, each new fire start is being carefully evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine whether the appropriate management action will be to suppress or allow new fire starts to burn.

The red flag weather predicted for Thursday, did not materialize. Today's weather forecast is calling for partly cloudy skies with a slight chance of rain showers or thunderstorms. Temperatures will be around 74 to 78 degrees, with relative humidity around 21 to 25 percent. Light winds are expected with ridge top winds out of the west at about 5 mph. Generally hotter and dryer weather conditions are predicted in the long term forecast.

There have been a total of 7 fires during the 2003 fire season-3 human-caused and 4 lightning-caused.

Fire restrictions go into effect on July 18. Under the restrictions, the following are prohibited: 1) backcountry campfires - lighting, building, maintaining, attending or using a campfire, wood fire, charcoal fire or open fire is prohibited in the backcountry; and 2) smoking - smoking is only permitted within an enclosed vehicle or building (unless otherwise prohibited), a developed campground site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials (i.e. parking lots, campsite cooking areas or if surrounded by water). In developed areas in the park, fires are only allowed in designated fire rings at developed campgrounds. Fires fueled by liquid fuel and LPG fuel are permitted only if used in self-contained appliances.