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YELLOWSTONE WEATHER Highs 80s, Lows 30s Partly Sunny More Weather ROAD REPORT All roads are now open, but subject to closure More Info THE DAILY CARTOON ONLINE GREETING CARDS PUBLISHER Yellowstone Net Company EDITOR-IN- CHIEF Bruce Gourley MORE LINKS Discussion Newspaper Archives Send us Your Comments		WILDFIRES UPDATE by National Park Service YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (NPS) -- Highway 212, outside the Northeast Entrance, otherwise known as the Beartooth Highway, is currently closed south of Red Lodge, Montana, due to fire activity. The Northeast Entrance to Yellowstone National Park and the Chief Joseph Highway (Highway 296) to Cody, Wyoming, remain open. Flagg Ranch, located in the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway, reopened August 28. Grassy Lake Road, located south of Yellowstone, reopened Tuesday. No-stopping restrictions on the South Entrance Road have also been lifted. Yellowstone National Park officials report that no new fires were found within Yellowstone Tuesday. Yellowstone’s fires are located in remote backcountry areas and are not threatening any developed areas at this time. Following is information on current fire activity in the park. There are approximately 55 people assigned to Yellowstone fires and they are supported by 2 helicopters and 2 engines. The Plateau Fire, located in a remote area of the southwestern portion of Yellowstone near Boundary Creek, is estimated to be 2,600 acres. This fire, burning towards the northeast, has been putting out a visible column of smoke, noticeable to residents of West Yellowstone and central Idaho. This fire is in a remote backcountry location and is not threatening any developed areas. Firefighters are working to protect a backcountry patrol cabin 1-2 miles from the fire as well as continuing a confinement strategy on the west flank. The Moose Fire, located near Moose Creek south of Shoshone Lake, is estimated at 1,200 acres. Previously burned areas from the 1988 Yellowstone fires are helping to naturally keep this fire from significantly spreading. The Boundary Fire is located along the South Boundary of the park near Grassy Lake. This fire is estimated at approximately 250 acres and is burning in an area that was burnt during the 1988 Yellowstone fires. Earlier this week, park staff established plots to monitor how the 1988 Yellowstone fires were affecting the behavior of this fire. Helicopters are doing water bucket drops to keep the fire confined to Yellowstone. The Unlucky Fire, located in the southwest portion of the park in the Bechler area, is now estimated to be approximately 2,200 acres. This fire is mostly burning fuels within its perimeter and is not substantially expanding. Before determining whether firefighters will suppress an individual fire, fire managers take a number of factors into consideration, including weather conditions, human safety, terrain, and available resources. Some of these fires are located in areas that present a great safety risk to firefighters, with rugged terrain and heavy fuels. All fires are closely monitored and mapped on a daily basis by park staff on reconnaissance flights. Yellowstone fire crews are also assisting with higher priority fires outside the park in Montana and areas surrounding the park—fires that have the potential to affect human safety or damage manmade structures. There have been a total of 34 fires during the 2000 fire season, 4 of which were human-caused; the remaining 30 were lightning-caused. All of these fires, except those mentioned above, have been controlled. Overall, park fire danger is rated as high. Park officials remind visitors that all entrances remain open, as well as all frontcountry visitor and park facilities, including all lodging, food services, general stores, gift shops, and campgrounds. BACK TO TOP
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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS AND COLUMNISTS Ralph Maughan Kim Steinbacher Kevin Sanders Steve Brashear Clint Wilkes Tim Gourley Hon. Bob Gammage Ruth Colter-Frick Lee Whittlesey Tom Mazzarisi Russ Finley David Monteith Denise Elmer Dr. Bob Bara Matthew McLean		MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR SARA HULPHERS News Brief OROVILLE, Wash. -- A memorial service for Sara Hulphers, 20, who died last week after falling into a hot spring in Yellowstone, was held in the Oroville High School Auditorium on Monday, August 28. A 1998 graduate of Oroville High, Sara was a student at Western Washington University in Bellingham where she was studying math, science and languages. Sara was remembered as a young woman who loved the outdoors and who had been so happy while working in Yellowstone this summer. In addition, a webpage has been established as a virtual memorial to Sara Hulphers. The author of the webpage is a California firefighter, Brian Kornegay, who lost his own daughter to an untimely death. Anyone may contribute to Sara's page. Click here to visit Sara's memorial webpage. BACK TO TOP
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		CURRENT FIRE RESTRICTIONS National Park Service YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (NPS) -- The following restrictions have been implemented because of fire activity in the park and surrounding areas outside the park: As of August 5, backcountry wood or charcoal fires are prohibited. Smoking is restricted to the immediate vicinity of the cooking area in designated backcountry sites only. As of August 19, no wood or charcoal fires are allowed at any of the frontcountry campsites, picnic areas, parking areas, and employee housing. This includes the use of fire grates, charcoal grills, fire pans, and any other ember-producing equipment. Propane, butane, and other gas stoves and gas grills are still permitted. No smoking is allowed except within buildings where smoking is normally permitted, in vehicles, around established fire rings in campgrounds, or in designated smoking areas—provided an ashtray is used. Some backcountry trails have been closed to all day and night use in the following areas: Bechler, Snake River, and Thorofare. Visitors planning to day hike or stay overnight in the backcountry are encouraged to call the Backcountry Office at (307) 344-2160 for specific trail closure information and other possible restrictions. BACK TO TOP
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		PERMIT ISSUED TO KILL WOLVES News Brief DILLON, Mont. -- Two Dillon-area sheep ranchers now have official permission to shoot wolves bothering their sheep in the Gravelly Range. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued the permit after a wolf attacked a sheep guard dog and killed several sheep earlier this month. This is the first time that a "take permit" has been issued to a rancher grazing livestock on public lands. The permit is good for 45 days. BACK TO TOP