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| WEDNESDAY August 22, 2001 Vol 5, # 73 |
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| WEDNESDAY August 22, 2001 Vol 5, # 73 |
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| Site Search | Support Yellowstone! Discussion $9.95 Internet, Email, More Email Newsletter | |
ROAD REPORT PUBLISHER EDITOR-IN-
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YELLOWSTONE FIRE UPDATE by National Park Service YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (NPS) -- Yellowstone National Park officials report a new fire start in the park Monday due to a lightning strike, bringing the total number of active fires in the park to 5. The Sepulcher Fire, located approximately 2 miles from Mammoth Hot Springs, is approximately 1-3 acres in size and estimated to be 80 percent contained. This lightning-caused fire is being actively suppressed. Numerous water bucket drops were done yesterday, as well as fire retardant drops. Currently, there are 11 personnel committed to the fire, including 2 helicopters. Following is information on other fire activity in the park. The Arthur Fire, started by lightning on July 29, remains at 2,800 acres. Work continues on mopping up hotspots and rehabilitating firelines. Currently, there are 48 personnel committed to this fire. The fire is contained but not controlled. The Sulphur Fire, started by lightning, was reported on August 15th. This fire is located across the river from Mud Volcano, more than a mile from the road, and is visible at times. The fire is currently estimated at 5 acres. The fire is being closely monitored throughout the day. The Stone Fire, started by lightning, was reported on August 16. This fire is located northeast of Fishing Bridge. The fire is approximately 6 acres and is burning actively in old growth forests and spotting into old burns (1981 and 1996). The fire is being closely monitored throughout the day. Smoke and fire activity can be seen from the highway from Fishing Bridge to East Entrance. The Falcon Fire originated on the Bridger-Teton National Forest in the wilderness area. It burned into Yellowstone National Park on August 19 on the ridge above Lynx Creek and spotted into the 1988 Mink Creek burn. The fire is currently estimated to be around 800 acres (10 acres in the park). Fire personnel are doing structural protection of the Thorofare cabin, and some backcountry campsites have been closed to the public. This fire is being closely monitored by park staff. Yellowstone Fire Management policy requires that all human-caused fires be suppressed but that natural fires be allowed to burn as long as they do not threaten people, property or resource values. Before any wildland fire is allowed to burn, however, it must be carefully evaluated and meet an inventory of pre-established criteria (including current and forecasted weather and wind conditions, fuel moisture levels, site location data, and sufficient resources). If all criteria are not met on a daily basis, the fire must be reassessed to determine whether it will still be allowed to burn or if it must be immediately suppressed. It has been determined that some of Yellowstone’s fires will not likely spread and can be managed as wildland fires to benefit the natural resource. The Sulphur, Stone, and Falcon Fires will continue to be monitored daily to assure they continue to meet and remain within the established criteria. The Arthur and Sepulcher Fires will continue to be suppressed. There have been a total of 28 fire starts during the 2001 fire season, 5 of these were human-caused; the remaining 23 were lightning-caused—and one, the Falcon Fire, started outside the park in the Bridger-Teton National Forest. Overall park fire danger is rated as high, with the extended weather forecast predicting continued hot and dry conditions. With fire activity in the park and surrounding areas outside the park, the following restrictions have been implemented: As of August 8: 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 frontcountry campgrounds. 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, campsite cooking areas or if surrounded by water). Some backcountry trails and campsites have been closed to all day and night use in the Mammoth and Thorofare areas of the park. 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. Park officials remind visitors that all
entrances, as well as all visitor and park facilities, including all lodging, food
services, general stores, gift shops, and campgrounds remain open to the public. The
nighttime closure (9 p.m. to 9 a.m.) between Madison and Norris for road construction
remains in place; and this road will close to the public and park employees at 9 p.m. on
August 26, 2001, for the remainder of the season |
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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS AND COLUMNISTS Russ Finley
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COMMERCIAL
VEHICLE INSPECTIONS SUCCESSFUL YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. -- Yellowstone National Park Acting Superintendent Frank Walker announced today that the recent inspections on commercial vehicles within park boundaries were successful and well accepted by the public. The inspections were unannounced and focused on all commercial vehicles but primarily buses. On July 31 and August 1, 2001, staff from the Motor Carrier Division of the Wyoming Highway Patrol and the U.S. Department of Transportation assisted park rangers with the full-level commercial vehicle inspections in the Old Faithful area of the park. This year, 67 vehicles were inspected, with a variety of Federal Motor Carrier violations encountered, resulting in 95 warnings and 20 violation notices being issued for both driver and vehicle violations; fines totaled about $2,800. Six vehicles were minimally delayed when they were placed out of service until repaired, and two vehicles were placed out of service overnight until repaired. Three drivers were placed out of service for eight hours, and one was placed out of service indefinitely due to inadequate driver training requirements. Acting Superintendent Walker explained that visitor safety within national parks is of grave concern and hopes that the short-term inconvenience to some park visitors travelling by bus will be offset by the long-term benefit of safer vehicles. This is the third year of the program. During the first year, 53 vehicles were inspected, resulting in 14 driver warnings, 10 driver citations, 48 vehicle warnings, and 5 vehicle citations; fines totaled $1,920. Eight buses, three delivery trucks, and seven drivers were placed out of service for violations. Last year, 70 vehicles were inspected, with only 20 percent of the vehicles and drivers completing the inspection without violations. Of the remaining inspections, an average of three violations per vehicle and driver was documented. Twenty-two violation notices were issued with fines totaling $3,050. Other general park-specific violations totaled $315. Five vehicles were placed out of service for temporary maintenance repairs; and an additional six vehicles and drivers were placed out of service for at least eight hours. Yellowstone National Park staff are pleased to work in partnership with the motor Carrier Divisions of Montana and Wyoming Highway Patrol in this important effort. |
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VETTE
FEST IN WEST YELLOWSTONE WEST YELLOWSTONE, Mont. -- Corvettes of Southeast Idaho expects about 100 Corvettes to participate in the sixth annual "Wild West Vette Fest" Aug. 24-26 at West Yellowstone. A parade will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, followed by a Corvette driving event and poker run at 10:30 a.m. Saturday night, a dance will be at 8:30 p.m. in the West Yellowstone Railroad Building, with Bob Ziel as deejay. The public is welcome. The Corvette "Show and Shine" will be at West Yellowstone's city park at 9 a.m. until about noon. For information call (208) 522-3359, or (208) 524-3087. |
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| YELLOWSTONE RIVER PERMIT
GRANTED News Brief LIVINGSTON, Mont. -- A Gardiner man, searching for gold in the Yellowstone, has received permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the state Department of Environmental Quality to dig four trenches on four islands in the Yellowstone River. Rob Beede must now get permission from the Park County Conservation District before he can proceed with the 100 foot long trenches, from which he hopes to extricate up to $900,000 worth of gold. Some biologists, anglers and environmentalists are fearful that if Beede is allowed to search for gold on the islands, his actions could harm the river and eventually lead to mining in Yellowstone itself. |
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