Fire Burning In Yellowstone National Park
JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) ― A 385-acre wildfire is burning near the center of Yellowstone National Park.A research flight discovered the fire burning two miles south of Beach Lake on Sunday. Gusty winds helped it spread from about a half acre to 150 acres Sunday and up to about 385 acres Monday.
Two hot shot crews joined the fight against the fire on Monday, boosting to 75 the number of people fighting the fire. Three helicopters and two air tankers are also being used.
The fire is burning seven miles southwest of the Bridge Bay Campground. Park officials say all roads and trails remain open.
Officials don't know yet how the fire started. It's the fourth fire this year in Yellowstone.
INCIDENT UPDATED
July 19, 20108:30 pm
July 19, 20108:30 pm
Approximate Location
44.515 latitude, -110.573 longitude
Map data ©2010 Google -
Incident Overview
The Beach Fire was discovered Sunday morning, July 18, by an aircraft conducting a research flight. It started in an area of sub alpine fir, about two miles south of Beach Lake and seven miles west-southwest of the Bridge Bay Campground.
Due to several factors including location, fuel, and weather conditions, the decision was made Sunday morning to suppress the fire.
Winds moved the fire to the north and east on Monday, with the east flank of the fire bumping up against the west side of last year's Arnica Fire.Three helicopters continued dumping water on hot spots along the fire line. The Helena Hotshots and the Lewis & Clark hotshots arrived in the park and hiked into the fire Monday afternoon. The two 20-person crews are camping out in the backcountry. Aerial mapping estimated the fire at 385 acres late Monday afternoon. 75 people are currently assigned to the fire.
There are no roads, trails, or campsites closed due to the Beach Fire. It poses no threat to park visitors. Smoke may be visible at times during periods of active burning.
Due to several factors including location, fuel, and weather conditions, the decision was made Sunday morning to suppress the fire.
Winds moved the fire to the north and east on Monday, with the east flank of the fire bumping up against the west side of last year's Arnica Fire.Three helicopters continued dumping water on hot spots along the fire line. The Helena Hotshots and the Lewis & Clark hotshots arrived in the park and hiked into the fire Monday afternoon. The two 20-person crews are camping out in the backcountry. Aerial mapping estimated the fire at 385 acres late Monday afternoon. 75 people are currently assigned to the fire.
There are no roads, trails, or campsites closed due to the Beach Fire. It poses no threat to park visitors. Smoke may be visible at times during periods of active burning.
Basic Information
| Incident Type | Wildfire |
|---|---|
| Cause | Unknown |
| Date of Origin | Sunday July 18th, 2010 approx. 07:00 AM |
| Location | 7 miles WSW of Bridge Bay Campground |
| Incident Commander | Joe Krish |
Current Situation
| Total Personnel | 75 |
|---|---|
| Size | 385 acres |
| Fuels Involved | Subalpine Fir |
| Fire Behavior | Winds moved the fire to the north and east on Monday, with the east flank of the fire bumping up against the west side of last year’s Arnica Fire. |
| Significant Events | Sunday afternoon, gusty thunderstorm winds caused the fire to move into the crowns and spread. |
Outlook
| Planned Actions | Tuesday morning, the 40 firefighters who will have camped out near the fire overnight will begin constructing control line, starting at the southwest corner of the fire, assisted by water drops from the helicopters. |
|---|---|
| Remarks | Two more 20-person Type 1 “hotshot” crews, two 20-person Type 2 –initial attack hand crews, and three more helicopters have been ordered in to assist with firefighting efforts. |
Inciweb - Link
July 17, 2010 (Spring Valley) -- 100 degree heat in Spring Valley today did not slow the attack of San Miguel firefighters on a house fire in the 8600 block of Sandy Bev Lane. A mother and seven of her eight children were home when the blaze was reported. The mother told investigators she was in the kitchen preparing a meal when she heard the smoke alarm sound. She went down a hallway to investigate and found one of the children’s bedrooms on fire.