Pocket Fire Burning Near Shoshone Lake In Yellowstone

A new fire is burning in Yellowstone National Park, this time near Shoshone Lake.

According to a Yellowstone press release, the fire was discovered Wednesday afternoon, August 10. It has been called Pocket Fire, since it’s burning between Shoshone and Pocket Lakes. Currently, the fire is five miles south southeast of Old Faithful and five miles west of West Thumb.

Three smokejumpers from the West Yellowstone Smokejumper Base, along with light helicopter support, have been assigned to the conflagration. Crews are working under a full suppression strategy, owing to its proximity to Old Faithful.

Yellowstone officials have also released an update concerning the two wildfires currently burning in Yellowstone National Park.

According to the press release, Fawn Fire, a lightning caused fire discovered last week, is currently burning at 930 acres west of Mammoth Hot Springs. We last reported Fawn Fire measured approximately 915 acres, so it has not grown considerably. Maple Fire, meanwhile, which was discovered earlier this week by a smokejumper outfit, burning northeast of West Yellowstone, has grown to 10 acres, from an estimated one-fourth of an acre. From a Yellowstone press release:

Public and firefighter safety is the first priority for park managers. The Fawn and Maple fires do not pose a threat to visitors. All roads into the and through the park are open.

Park visitors and communities north and west of the park should anticipate varying levels of smoke from these fires.

Stage 1 Fire Restrictions are still in effect for Yellowstone National Park. Closures are in effect for the following campsites and trails:

Campsites

• WB1

• WB3

• WB4

• WB6

Trails

• Bighorn Pass trail eastbound at the junction of the cut-off trail to the Fawn Pass trail.

• Bighorn Pass trail westbound at Bighorn Pass.

• Fawn Pass trail eastbound at the junction of the cut-off trail to the Big Horn Pass trail.

• Fawn Pass trail westbound at campsite 1F2.

• Gneiss Creek trail southbound at campsite WA1.

Currently, the cut-off trail between the Bighorn and Fawn Pass trails is still open, as is the Gneiss Creek trail northbound at the spur trail junction that leads to the Cougar patrol cabin.

UPDATE: as of 8:25 p.m. Thursday, August 11, Maple Fire has grown to approximately 218 acres. Read here.