Bacon Rind Fire Late August

As Bacon Rind Fire Recedes, Yellowstone Fire Danger Upgraded to High

As the Bacon Rind Fire recedes and not viewed as a threat to cause major damage, the Yellowstone fire danger has been upgraded to High, thanks to warm and dry weather.

Some recent visitors to Yellowstone National Park were treated to a little snow last week, as the Rocky Mountain West region saw the first snow of the 2019 fall season. But that was just a momentary respite, and the warm and dry weather felt in most of Yellowstone National Park in Summer 2018 is now back, and as a result the National Park Service has upgraded the Yellowstone fire danger to High. 

However, we’re not to the point where there are fire restrictions in the p\Park. As always, campfires are only permitted in fire rings in campgrounds and some backcountry campsites. All campfires must be cold to the touch before abandoning.

The weather probably won’t be a factor in the Bacon Rind Fire on the western boundary of Yellowstone, where Custer Gallatin National Forest and National Park Service officials called off monitoring of the fire on Aug. 31. It was then estimated to have a perimeter of 2,060 acres, with minimal growth within the past 10 days or so. (Remember: the perimeter doesn’t mean all 2,060 acres are on fire. There were plenty of islands of untouched forest within that perimeter.) The fire remains active on the southern flank, on the south side of the Bacon Rind drainage. Additional areas of activity are on the northern flank, where the fire continues backing down the slope towards Snowslide Creek. Additional fire growth is expected to be minimal. Firefighters will continue to patrol along Highway 191 and posting lookouts to observe the fire. Fire behavior continues to be limited to creeping and burning of downed material.

As far as forest fires goes, this could be called a good one: the area has not seen fire in the last 150 years, and this was a good opportunity to clear out dead brush and tress.

Currently there are three active fires in Yellowstone, but only one — the Basin Creek Fire — over an acre in size. The Basin Creek Fire, first detected on August 10 and caused by lightning in a forested area 5 miles south of Heart Lake, has stalled at 19 acres and is not impacting Park operations.

Image of Bacon Rind Fire courtesy InciWeb.

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