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| FRIDAY August 10, 2001 Vol 5, # 70 |
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| FRIDAY August 10, 2001 Vol 5, # 70 |
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| Site Search | Support Yellowstone! Discussion $7.95 Internet, Email, More Email Newsletter | |
ROAD REPORT PUBLISHER EDITOR-IN-
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YELLOWSTONE ARTHUR FIRE
UPDATE by National Park Service YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (NPS) -- Crews on Yellowstone's Arthur Fire (2,800 acres, 75% contained) continued to make excellent progress Thursday in efforts to contain the fire on its northeastern, eastern and southeastern flanks. A total of 822 firefighters and overhead are committed to the fire. Residents at the East Entrance have been allowed to return, and the East Entrance is now open to visitors on a limited basis in both the morning and evening, with full opening expected soon. The current hours of access via the East Entrance to Yellowstone National Park are 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., then again from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. The road will remain closed at all other times of the day and night. This partial reopening allows public access durring periods that will least coincide with firefighting traffic. Visitors entering the East entrance will not be able to see much evidence of the fire, as the affected area is largely off of the roadway. In keeping with the progress, the Shoshone National Forest is lifting its closure order on four trails and the surrounding backcountry located north of the fire. The trails that are reopening include the Crow Creek, North Fork, West Grinnell and Grinnell Meadows Trails. Crews are continuing direct line construction along the southern and eastern flanks of the fire, with helicopter bucket support. Mop-up interior to the fire and rehabilitation of firelines will continue in the western half of the fire. Unsettled weather patterns may contribute to more active fire behavior, but could be offset by higher relative humidities and lower temperatures over the next few days. Difficult access continues to be a challenge as suppression efforts move east around the head of the fire. For a recorded message of updated fire information, call (307) 344-2580. To speak to a Fire Information Officer at the Arthur Fire Incident Command Post, call (307) 242-4369. Park officials remind visitors that a nighttime closure (9 pm to 9 am) between Madison and Norris for road construction remains in place. For fire maps and photos, see the Arthur Fire
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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS AND COLUMNISTS Russ Finley
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YELLOWSTONE
FIRE RESTRICTIONS YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (NPS) -- Yellowstone National Park Acting Superintendent Frank Walker announced today that fire use restrictions will go into effect in the park beginning today, Friday, August 10, 2001. The restrictions have been imposed due to the high fire danger in all areas of the park, along with a forecast of continued hot and dry weather. Under the restrictions, the following are prohibited: · Backcountry Campfires: Lighting, building, maintaining, attending or using a campfire, wood fire, charcoal fire or open fire is prohibited in the backcountry. Fires fueled by liquid fuel and LPG fuel are permitted in the backcountry only if used in self-contained appliances. Fires are only allowed in designated fire rings at developed campgrounds. · Smoking: Smoking is only permitted within an enclosed vehicle or building (unless otherwise prohibited), a developed campground site or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials (i.e. parking lots, c campsite cooking areas or if surrounded by water). These restrictions will remain in place until further notice, and may be expanded or reduced depending upon the weather and related fire danger. The purpose of these restrictions is to provide for human safety and to protect the area's natural resources and personal property. For current information on road and trail closures, check at the nearest visitor center, backcountry office or call 307-344-7381. |
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| WEED OR WILDFLOWER? by National Park Service YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (NPS) -- The public is invited to join Yellowstone National Park and Gallatin National Forest staff in a short walk to learn how to distinguish weeds from wildflowers. The session will be held on Tuesday, August 14, 2001, from 7-8 p.m. The group will meet at the West Yellowstone Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center parking lot in West Yellowstone, Montana. This session is an opportunity for interested parties to not only learn how to distinguish weeds from wildflowers but also to learn how to control noxious weeds. For more information, please call Katy Duffy, Yellowstone National Park, (307) 344-2803; Susan LaMont, Gallatin National Forest, (406) 823-6976; or the Public Lands Desk in West Yellowstone, (406) 646-4403. |
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| WYOMING FIRE NEWS by National Park Service YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (NPS) -- While things are improving on the Arthur Fire, the fire danger across Wyoming and other western states has intensified. Effective today, Friday, August 10, 2001, Yellowstone National Park and the Shoshone National Forest begin implementing Fire Use Restrictions. The restrictions allow fires in fire grates, gas grills or stoves in developed campsites. Campfires in backcountry areas are prohibited. Smoking is banned unless in a developed site, enclosed vehicle or building or in an area at least three feet in diameter that is cleared of all flammable material. Similar fire use restrictions have also been implemented on the Bridget-Teton National Forest, lands administered by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, and the Bureau of Land Management. Visitors to any of these public lands are advised to check the fire restrictions that may vary slightly by agency. |
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