Yellowstone News and Information

  NEWS RELEASE First confirmed 2024 wildland fire in Yellowstone National Park Parkwide fire danger LOW Fire Danger sign at Low NPS / Jacob W. Frank News Release Date:  June 10, 2024 Contact:   Linda Veress , (307) 344-2015 On June 9, the first confirmed wildland fire of the season in Yellowstone National Park was detected by a motorist driving on Highway 191, located on the west side of the park. The .1-acre lightning-ignited Milepost 17 Fire torched a single tree almost a mile west of  Highway 191  and 17 miles north of West Yellowstone, Montana. Yellowstone wildland firefighters are suppressing the fire, which is expected to be controlled today, June 10. Stay informed The parkwide fire danger level for Yellowstone is LOW. Currently, there are no fire restrictions in place or planned in the park. Campfires are only permitted within established fire rings in campgrounds and some backcountry campsites. Campfires must always be attended and cold to the touch befo...

  First confirmed 2023 wildland fire in Yellowstone National Park; Parkwide fire danger is now HIGH News Release Date:  July 24, 2023 Contact:   Linda Veress , (307) 344-2015 On July 22, the first confirmed wildland fire of the season in Yellowstone National Park was detected by a visitor. The .1-acre lightning-ignited fire was located between Little Cottonwood Creek and Hellroaring Mountain in the northern part of the park. Four smokejumpers based in West Yellowstone, Montana, suppressed the fire and declared it out. Stay informed   The parkwide fire danger level for Yellowstone is now HIGH. Currently, there are no active wildland fires in the park. Currently, there are no fire restrictions in place or planned in the park. Campfires are only permitted within established fire rings in campgrounds and some backcountry campsites. Campfires must always be attended and cold to the touch before abandoning. Soak, stir, feel, repeat. The Greater Yellowstone area is a  ...

  NEWS RELEASE New remote 5-acre wildfire in northwest corner of Yellowstone National Park                            The Big Horn Fire, a remote wildfire located in steep, rocky terrain in the                           northwest corner of Yellowstone National Park                           NPS/Jess Page On the afternoon of Sept. 27, individuals in Tom Miner Basin, Montana (an area located just north of Yellowstone National Park’s northwest boundary), reported seeing smoke in Yellowstone. The park’s helicopter crew flew the area that evening and spotted a new fire, likely ignited by lightning several days prior. Estimated at 5 acres, the Big Horn Fire is in very steep, rugged and rocky terrain in the remote northwest corner of the park. See  photos . Fire crews will monitor t...

  News Release Yellowstone National Park fire danger lowered to HIGH, stage 1 fire restrictions lifted due to widespread rain Fire Danger sign at HIGH NPS / Jacob W. Frank News Release Date: August 23, 2021 Contact: Morgan Warthin , 307-344-2015 Yellowstone National Park lowered the parkwide fire danger from very high to HIGH due to an average of two inches of rain that fell across the park the week of August 16.   Stage 1 fire restrictions  (put in place July 1) are no longer in effect. The park will evaluate the need for restrictions for the remainder of the fire season.  Campfires are allowed within established fire rings in campgrounds and some  backcountry campsites .   Campfires must always be attended and cold to the touch before abandoning. Soak, stir, feel and repeat unti...

Shoshone National Forest: Three wildfires in two days

  Lightning starts fire in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness area Wednesday

 Yellowstone issues alert as smoke from distant fires reaches park

  VERY HIGH fire danger in Yellowstone National Park Fire restrictions effective immediately Fire Danger sign at Very High NPS / Jacob W. Frank News Release Date: July 1, 2021 Contact: Morgan Warthin , (307) 344-2015 The parkwide fire danger level for Yellowstone is now VERY HIGH and Stage 1 fire restrictions are in effect. Fire restrictions include: Backcountry and trails   Prohibited: Charcoal or wood fire campfires in the backcountry, including those in established fire rings. Prohibited: Smoking in the backcountry and on all trails, except immediately adjacent to the provided fire ring in designated campsites or within a 3-foot-diameter area barren of all flammable material (e.g. standing in water, on a boat). Permitted: Portable gas stoves and lanterns in areas that are barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable materials within 3 feet. Frontcountry and developed areas   Permitted: Smoking only in: an enclose...

  1988 Yellowstone National Park fires remembered, 33 years later

News Release Lightning ignites Yellowstone’s first fire of 2021 National Park Service News Release Date: June 25, 2021 Contact: Morgan Warthin , (307) 344-2015 A visitor reported Yellowstone’s first wildland fire of the year on the evening of June 24. The Elk Creek Fire, 0.1 acre in size, is located on a ridge south of Blacktail Drive and west of Petrified Tree in the northern part of the park. This fire is being suppressed due to an unfavorable location this early in the fire season and is being immediately suppressed. The parkwide fire danger level for Yellowstone is HIGH. Currently, there are no fire restrictions. However, park staff is monitoring conditions and may put restrictions in place in the near future. Campfires are only permitted within established fire rings in campgrounds and some backcountry campsites. Campfires must always be attended and cold to the touch before abandoning. Soak, stir, feel, repeat. The Greater Yellowstone area is a fir...

  News Release Fire Danger Has Increased to Very High 06.23.2021 News Release Date: June 23, 2021 Contact: Denise Germann, 307.739.3393 Contact: C.J. Adams, 307.739.3431 Western WY– The fire danger rating has been elevated to very high for Grand Teton National Park, Bridger-Teton National Forest, and the National Elk Refuge. Conditions in the Teton Interagency area are drying rapidly, and a fire may start easily, spread quickly and burn intensely. Everyone is asked to practice heightened fire safety at all times. As the Independence Day holiday approaches, visitors and local residents alike are reminded that fireworks are not permitted in Grand Teton National Park, on the Bridger-Teton National Forest, or within the National Elk Refuge. The use of fireworks is illegal in Teton County unless permitted through the special-event process through either the Town of Jackson or Teton County. These fireworks regulations play a critical role in fire...

News Release HIGH fire danger in Yellowstone National Park Fire danger sign at High NPS / Jacob W. Frank Subscribe | What is RSS News Release Date: June 21, 2021 Contact: Morgan Warthin , (307) 344-2015 The parkwide fire danger level for Yellowstone is now HIGH. Currently, there are no active wildland fires in the park. Currently, there are no fire restrictions in place or planned in the park. Campfires are only permitted within established fire rings in campgrounds and some backcountry campsites. Campfires must always be attended and cold to the touch before abandoning. Soak, stir, feel, repeat. The Greater Yellowstone area is a fire-adapted ecosystem . Fire plays an important role in maintaining the health of this area’s wildlife habitat and vegetation. Stay informed about  current fire activity  in Yellowstone. 

  News Release MODERATE fire danger in Yellowstone National Park Fire danger sign at moderate NPS / Jacob W. Frank Subscribe | What is RSS News Release Date: June 14, 2021 Contact: Morgan Warthin , (307) 344-2015 The parkwide fire danger level for Yellowstone is now moderate. Currently, there are no active wildland fires in the park. Currently, there are no fire restrictions  in place or planned in the park. Campfires are only permitted within established fire rings in campgrounds and some backcountry campsites. Campfires must always be attended and be cold to the touch before abandoning. Soak, stir, feel, repeat. The Greater Yellowstone area is a fire-adapted ecosystem . Fire plays an important role in maintaining the health of this area’s wildlife habitat and vegetation. Stay informed about current fire activity in Yellowstone.

  University of Idaho grad student studies tree rings at Yellowstone to learn about wildfires

Wildfire Season Approaching