Bacon Rind Fire Aug. 8

It’s HOT HOT HOT in Yellowstone: Fire Danger Raised to Very High

A hot, dry summer has led Yellowstone National Park officials to raise the fire danger rating to very high, so watch yourself if you’re hitting the Park anytime soon.

Despite the fire danger level, there are currently no fire restrictions in the Park. As always, campfires are only permitted in fire rings in campgrounds and some backcountry campsites. And all campfires must be cold to the touch before abandoning.

A fire danger of very high does mean the conditions are ripe for forest fires. The Folsom Fire, caused by lightning and first observed on Aug. 4, is still reported as active even though it’s currently less than an acre in size. The Folsom Fire is located within the 1988 North Fork Fire scar, in the headwaters of Blacktail Deer Creek on the Blacktail Deer Plateau. Ignited by lightning, it may be visible from the Grand Loop Road between Mammoth Hot Springs and Tower-Roosevelt.

The Bacon Rind Fire, meanwhile, continues to slowly spread. According to Custer Gallatin National Forest officials, the Bacon Rind Fire is now at 500 acres, up from 488 acres a few days ago. The majority of the burn is in the Lee Metcalf Wilderness of the Custer Gallatin National Forest, with a small portion in Yellowstone. Visitors are able to see smoke from the Bacon Rind Fire from Highway 191, near mile marker 42 (twenty miles south of Big Sky), between Bacon Rind and Snowslide Creeks. The fire is two miles west of Highway 191.

According to National Forest officials, fire managers continually access the long-term potential for the fire. If the need exists, they have identified several areas in which to take action to reduce the threat to infrastructure. Fire managers are most concerned about firefighter and public safety, the potential impacts to Highway 191 and private land north of the fire. Fire crews are currently monitoring the fire, and improving defensible space around structures, including the Black Butte Ranch, north of the fire.

Right now there is no precipitation in the Yellowstone National Park weather forecast, with extremely hot weather the next few days before cooling down somewhat next week.

All roads leading into and through the Park are open.

Image of Bacon Rind Fire courtesy InciWeb.

RELATED STORIES: New Yellowstone Fire Emerges; Bacon Rind Fire Keeps Growing, Albeit Slowly; Bacon Rind Fire Expansion at 383 Acres; Growth Slows; Yellowstone Fire Danger Upgraded to High; New Fire Emerges; Bacon Rind Fire Expands to 340 Acres, Now in Yellowstone

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