Grayling 2 Fire Discovered In Yellowstone, Boundary Fire Shrinks In Acreage

There’s a new fire reported in Yellowstone National Park: The Grayling 2 Fire.

According to a Yellowstone press release, firefighters on Mount Holmes saw lightning strike a tree in the Grayling Creek area, which immediately caught fire. Subsequently, they called a helicopter in to douse the tree with water. Firefighters will be hiking through the area to certify whether the fire is out.

As of writing, the Buffalo Complex still consists of five fires: Fawn, Maple, Buffalo, Thumb, and Grayling 2. We had previously reported that Thumb fire had been delisted from Inciweb, after crews had sought to suppress it.

The Boundary Fire is being managed under a separate protocol from the Buffalo Complex. Since our last update, Boundary Fire has actually been downgraded to 191 acres, after crews built a “direct saw and hand line” at the fire’s edge. The Midewin Hotshots aided firefighters by installing a hose lay and pumps.

According to a Yellowstone press release, later today, firefighters on the ground around the Boundary Fire will be receiving help from “an additional 20-person Type 2 initial attack crew.” They will also be using water to douse hotspots along the fire’s edge.

Maple, Buffalo, and Fawn Fires have not grown in acreage since our last report. From a Yellowstone press release:

Fire activity is expected to moderate today as increased cloud cover, higher humidity, and predicted wetting rains will move across the park. Winds will shift today, and will be generally northeast and east. Areas that have not had smoke in the past several days may see an increase. It is possible that smoke may impact driving. Drivers are encouraged to use caution, slow down and use headlights if smoke impacts roadways.

In addition, Thursday’s high is projected at 65 degrees.

Stage 1 fire restrictions are still in place for Yellowstone National Park. Below is the list of trail and campsite closures, including new closures in parts of the Custer Gallatin National Forest, according to a Yellowstone press release:

Custer Gallatin National Forest

• From the intersection of Highway 191 and Duck Creek Road #2523 (south side of the road), to Yellowstone National Park boundary, including the fishing access road at the end of Duck Creek road, south along YNP line to the north side of the Madison River bluff, then north along east side of Highway 191 back to the starting point, excluding the transfer station and road #6794

Campsites

• WA1

• WB1

• WB3

• WB4

• WB6

Trails

• Buffalo Fork Trail from the trailhead at Slough Creek to the Park Boundary.

• Gneiss Creek Trail from the Gneiss Creek Trailhead (WK7) to Seven Mile Bridge Trailhead (WK8).

• 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.

• The cut-off trail between Bighorn and Fawn Pass trails is open.

According to Inciweb, while the Buffalo Fork Trail is closed, both the Slough Creek trail and campsites are open. All Park roads and visitor facilities, both NPS- and concessionaire-operated, are open as well.