Yellowstone Fire Danger Level Downgraded to Moderate

The Yellowstone fire danger level has been downgraded to moderate, as cool weather and moisture in the air has mitigated the fire risk in Yellowstone National Park.

There are no fire restrictions currently in place in Yellowstone, but National Park Service officials request that visitors ensure that all campfires be cold to the touch before abandoning. In addition, campfires are only permitted within established fire rings in campgrounds and some backcountry campsites.

The downgrade of the Yellowstone fire danger level does not eliminate all fire risk, as there are four active fires in the Park being monitors. The newest is the Wawb Fire (shown at the top of this page) near Cache Creek in the northeast corner of Yellowstone National Park, a lightning-ignited wildfire first detected on September 1, 2019, by a backcountry ranger. At a half-acre, current fire activity is minimal, and there are no closures in the area (as shown in the above map). (All fire activity can be tracked here.)

The other large active fire in Yellowstone is the Brimstone Fire, located on the eastern shore of Yellowstone Lake. Stalled out at 80 acres, the Brimstone Fire is not threatening any visitors or services, and all roads in the area remain open. However, smoke from the fire in may be visible from Bridge Bay, Lake Village, Fishing Bridge, the East Entrance Road, and communities east of the park.

The Pollux Fire, first detected on the evening of August 3 from the Mount Washburn fire lookout, is still regarded as an active fire and being monitored. While performing an aerial reconnaissance on the morning of August 4, Shoshone National Forest fire staff located the fire in the vicinity of Pollux Peak. Mapped at 30 acres, the remote fire does not pose an immediate threat to established trails, backcountry campsites, or patrol cabins.

The Wyodaho Fire, about three-quarter-mile east of Wyodaho Lake in the Bechler District, is still classified as being active. The one-acre fire is smoldering and creeping in grass and open timber. It  is less than a mile from the Bechler River Trail and is about 600 feet above the trail. Currently there are no trail or campsite closures associated with this fire.

There is one significant wildfire in the Yellowstone region: the Fishhawk Fire, located 42 miles west of Cody near the Yellowstone East Entrance. Estimated to be 11,171 acres, the Fishhawk Fire is being monitored by the Wapiti Ranger District of the Shoshone National Forest, as further growth is not expected due to decreased temperatures and increased moisture in the air.

Map and photo courtesy National Park Service.