Lightning sparks fire near Sawtell Peak
Passing lightning storms have caused a fire near the Sawtell Peak. The Yale Fire, as it is being called, was located by fire crews Thursday morning about one mile southwest of Sawtell Peak. The fire is burning in a small group of whitebark pine and subalpine fir trees.
Officials with the East Idaho Interagency Fire Center say that due to the remote location of the fire, the Caribou-Targhee National Forest will allow the fire to play its natural role in the ecosystem. Whitebark pine has historically been the dominant tree species at such high elevations. Decades of aggressive fire suppression have allowed other species such as lodgepole and subalpine pine to encroach upon and compete for nutrients with the whitebark pine. Officials say naturally-occurring fires can increase the health of the forest.
The fire is burning on the east aspect, meaning that smoke may be visible from the Island Park area in the coming days. Fire personnel from the Island Park Ranger District will be closely monitoring the Yale Fire, so additional reporting is not necessary.
