Thousands of acres burning

The 2106-acre Lutz Fire in the Pintler Mountains is being managed with a modified suppression strategy of altering fire behavior to limit threats to white bark pine, the Emerine electronics site, a heritage structure on the south side of Emerine Ridge, and private property.

Also in the Pintlers, the Copper Fire is burning 1014 acres. Crews are keeping the fire within the existing perimeter, monitoring the fire’s behavior, and protecting nearby structures.

In Yellowstone, a new lightning caused fire, the Trischman Fire, was detected Saturday afternoon and is estimated at three to five acres. It’s in a remote area 4.5 miles west of Shoshone Lake and six miles southwest of Old Faithful. This fire is being suppressed with 16 smokejumpers and supported by Yellowstone’s Lama Helicopter. Even though the fire is in a remote area, managers felt it necessary to suppress it, largely to minimize any potential impact to the Old Faithful area.

Five other lightning caused wildland fires, managed as the Heart Complex, continue to burn in the backcountry of the Park.

The Point Fire on the eastern shore of Yellowstone Lake is approximately 1,100 acres. It has continued to flare up in the heat of the day as it hit pockets of dead and down vegetation near its perimeter. Crews continued to monitor the fire and provide protection for the Clear Creek Cabin. The Thorofare Trail has been closed from the Nine Mile Trailhead to one mile south of the fire area.

Four other fires are being managed to allow natural processes to occur to enhance the area’s natural resources, to protect people and property, and to effectively use available firefighting resources:

– The Gibbon Fire (16-18 acres), burning three miles southeast of Madison Junction, has seen little new fire activity and is estimated at 16-18 acres. It has been burning since July 12.

– The Ouzel Fire (three acres) is burning three acres and has shown little recent activity. The fire is five miles from the west boundary with the Caribou-Targhee National Forest.

– The Huckleberry Fire (one to two acres) and is two miles from the south boundary with the Bridger-Teton National Forest. Little activity has been seen on the fire for several days.

– The Pitchstone Fire (.1 acre) is on Pitchstone Plateau also has had minimal activity.

Other than limited temporary closures of some backcountry campsites and hiking trails, all park entrances, roads and services are open. None of these fires pose a threat to park visitors.