Yellowstone fire season begins to cool down

As of Wednesday, there have been 22 fires in Yellowstone National Park this year burning more than 62,000 acres. That is the highest number of acres burned since the historic 1988 fire season. 800,000 acres were burned during the 1988 fire season.

Four fires (the Maple, Buffalo, Fawn and Central fires) made up most of the acreage. The Boundary fire was suppressed at 192 acres. The remaining 17 fires were small, totaling together only 14.18 acres.

This season, 11 fires were immediately suppressed because values like roads, buildings, developed areas and human life, were threatened. Seven fires were the result of human activity such as untended campfires, vehicle operations, or cigarette disposal. Fifteen of the fires were caused by lightning strikes.

Five fires are still active. The Maple, Buffalo, Central, Fawn and Jasper fires are being managed to allow fire to perform its natural role in the ecosystem. The Maple fire is the largest and has burned over 45,000 acres.

Firefighters said concentrations of down trees in some fire areas will burn until snow blankets the region. Visitors will continue to see rising smoke within burned areas. They said that will continue until snow totally extinguishes hot spots.

Since 1988, Yellowstone National Park has seen anywhere from one to 78 fires in a given year. Lightning is the major cause of all fires. 26 of this year’s fires were lightning caused.

About 92 percent of the park’s annual fires never burn more than 100 acres. 75 percent don’t surpass a quarter acre.