Yellowstone National Park
National Park Service
Wyoming
WYOMING, WY 82190
2020 Yellowstone National Park Lone Star Fire – September 23, 2020
Acres: 4,118
Total Personnel: 46
Cause: Lightning
This InciWeb sight will be updated only if significant changes occur in fire behavior.
Fire behavior was significantly less than in previous days, with smoldering in a few areas burning heavy, downed crisscrossed trees.
Operations to reduce fuels in the Old Faithful Area will continue. Fuel reduction efforts will focus on the Old faithful residential area and powerline.
Fire activity in the western United States remains high and has created significant demand for firefighting resources. The nation is currently in Preparedness Level 5 (PL5). This represents the highest level of fire activity and demand for resources. All residents and visitors can assist fire efforts by following fire restrictions to reduce the potential of additional starts. Fire danger in the Yellowstone area is very high; campfires in the backcountry are not allowed. Read more about backcountry fire restrictions in the Backcountry Situation Report.
What’s Open:
The Grand Loop Road between Old Faithful and West Thumb Junction is open to all travel. Be cautious if smoke is present.
What’s Closed:
Many of the trails and campsites around Shoshone Lake and Lone Star Geyser are closed. Hikers are encouraged to talk to park staff for alternate hiking and backpacking opportunities or visit the park's Backcountry Situation Report.The Fern Cascades Trail remains closed for fire operations.
Trailheads on the Grand Loop Road between Old Faithful and West Thumb Junction remain closed to the public. A Lone Star Fire Campsite and Trailhead Closure map is available for reference.
Current as of | |
Incident Type | Wildfire |
Cause | Lightning/natural |
Date of Origin | Saturday August 22nd, 2020 approx. 04:00 PM |
Location | Three miles south of the Old Faithful developed area. 23 miles southeast of West Yellowstone, MT. |
Incident Commander | Rob Smolczynski |
Coordinates | 44.389 latitude, -110.821 longitude |
Total Personnel | 46 |
Size | 4,118 Acres |
Estimated Containment Date | Friday October 30th, 2020 approx. 12:00 PM |
Fuels Involved | Fire is active in a mature, unburned forest of spruce, fir, and lodgepole pine. |
Significant Events | Minimal creeping and smoldering |
Planned Actions | Fire monitoring will analyze fire spread potential. Crews will continue fuel reduction in infrastructure sites around the Old Faithful area. |
Projected Incident Activity | Impacts to trails and backcountry campsites. Fire is 1 mile from backcountry cabin. |
Weather Concerns | Warmer and drier conditions are forecasted for the next two days,and then precipitation is in the forecast for Thursday and Friday. |