Acres: 1,220
Total Personnel: 52
Cause: Lightning

The Lone Star Fire became more active today with high temperatures, low relative humidity, and light winds fueling its growth. Firefighters monitoring from a helicopter reported group torching and activity at the fire’s perimeter. The fire expanded along its eastern flank to an estimated 1,200 acres and burned southeast toward Shoshone Lake.

A smoke column was visible from the Old Faithful developed area and the Grand Loop Road throughout the afternoon. Warm, dry weather is expected through Sunday which may increase fire activity. Smoke will likely be visible through Labor Day weekend.

The Wyoming Type 3 team and Yellowstone resource management crews will continue fuels reduction work around key infrastructure in the Old Faithful area, including power lines, historic buildings, and communication equipment. This will protect the area from an unexpected shift in direction of the Lone Star Fire, but it also prepares these developments for future wildfires.

What’s Open:

• The Grand Loop Road and day use areas between Old Faithful and West Thumb Junction are open but may close at any time if fire activity increases.
• All entrances to Yellowstone are open. For up-to-date road information see the Current Conditions webpage, call (307) 344-2117 for a recorded message, or sign up to receive Yellowstone road alerts on your mobile phone by texting "82190" to 888-777.

What’s Closed:

• Trailheads on the Grand Loop Road between Old Faithful and West Thumb Junction remain closed to the public. This includes Howard Eaton, Lone Star, Divide, and DeLacy Creek trails. A Lone Star Fire Campsite and Trailhead Closure map is available. Visitors are asked to respect all area closure signs even when there is no apparent imminent threat from the fire.
• Many of the campsites around Shoshone Lake and Lone Star Geyser are closed. Hikers and backpackers are encouraged to talk to park staff for alternate opportunities or visit the park's Backcountry Situation Report.

Fire danger in the Yellowstone area remains very high; campfires in the backcountry are not allowed. Read more about backcountry fire restrictions in the Backcountry Situation Report.

Updates will continue to be posted to this InciWeb site, but no daily fire update will be published or available as a printable PDF unless there are significant changes in the fire's status. Archived daily updates can be found on the News tab of this InciWeb site.

Acres: 960
Total Personnel: 49
Cause: Lightning

This will be the last in the series of daily fire updates unless there are significant changes in the fire’s status. This InciWeb site will continue to note the acreage, number of personnel, and related fire management actions.

Fire activity was minimized yesterday as a cold front and light precipitation moved through the area. Despite morning frosts and mild temperatures leading up to Labor Day weekend, the fire is expected to retain heat and smolder for some time.

Crews will continue fuels reduction work around key infrastructure in Old Faithful Village, including power lines, historic buildings, and communication equipment. This will not only protect the area from an unexpected shift in direction of the Lone Star Fire, but it also prepares these developments for future wildfires.

What’s Open:

• The Grand Loop Road and day use areas between Old Faithful and West Thumb Junction are open but may close at any time if fire activity increases.
• All entrances to Yellowstone are open. For up-to-date road information see the Current Conditions webpage, call (307) 344-2117 for a recorded message, or sign up to receive Yellowstone road alerts on your mobile phone by texting "82190" to 888-777.

What’s Closed:

• Trailheads on the Grand Loop Road between Old Faithful and West Thumb Junction remain closed to the public. This includes Howard Eaton, Lone Star, Divide, and DeLacy Creek trails. A Lone Star Fire Campsite and Trailhead Closure map  is available. Visitors are asked to respect all area closure signs even when there is no apparent imminent threat from the fire.
• Many of the campsites around Shoshone Lake and Lone Star Geyser are closed. Hikers and backpackers are encouraged to talk to park staff for alternate opportunities or visit the park's  Backcountry Situation Report.

Fire activity in the western United States has created smoky conditions in some areas. 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 remains very high; campfires in the backcountry are not allowed. Read more about backcountry fire restrictions in the    Backcountry Situation Report.

 

Acres: 960
Total Personnel: 49  
Cause: Lightning

A cold front moved into the area overnight and is expected to bring rain showers lasting through much of the day. Snow flurries are also possible throughout the morning. The sharp change in weather is likely to decrease fire behavior today. However, the warming and drying trend predicted for the remainder of the week may cause smoldering areas to respond and pick up again in activity.

Firefighters saw some single tree torching yesterday, noting the northwest flank of the fire was the most active. Scattered areas along the perimeter appeared to be holding heat. 

Crews continued protecting key infrastructure around Old Faithful on Sunday. After concentrating efforts near the cell tower and water treatment facility this past week, they spent yesterday working on a fuels reduction project around cabins behind the Snow Lodge at Old Faithful. Depending on the weather, fire personnel will finish chipping debris around the cabins again today and use hand tools around an aboveground power line and substation to thin vegetation as protection against future fire encroachment. Today’s operations and schedule will take into consideration the safety of firefighters working in wet, cold conditions.

What’s Open:

• The Grand Loop Road and day use areas between Old Faithful and West Thumb Junction are open but may close at any time if fire activity increases.
• All entrances to Yellowstone are open. For up-to-date road information see the Current Conditions webpage, call (307) 344-2117 for a recorded message, or sign up to receive Yellowstone road alerts on your mobile phone by texting "82190" to 888-777.

What’s Closed:

• Trailheads on the Grand Loop Road between Old Faithful and West Thumb Junction remain closed to the public. This includes Howard Eaton, Lone Star, Divide, and DeLacy Creek trails. A Lone Star Fire Campsite and Trailhead Closure map is available. Visitors are asked to respect all area closure signs even when there is no apparent imminent threat from the fire.
• Many of the campsites around Shoshone Lake and Lone Star Geyser are closed. Hikers and backpackers are encouraged to talk to park staff for alternate opportunities or visit the park's Backcountry Situation Report.Fire activity in the western United States has created smoky conditions throughout the region. 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 remains very high; campfires in the backcountry are not allowed. Read more about backcountry fire restrictions in the Backcountry Situation Report.

Acres: 960 
Total Personnel: 49
Cause: Lightning

Warmer temperatures and gusty winds associated with an approaching cold front led to increased activity on the Lone Star Fire Saturday. The fire crept into unburned pockets along the fire's edge throughout the day. There are also a number of isolated heat sources outside of the fire’s perimeter. An infrared flight last night confirmed the fire has grown over the last several days to 960 acres. A progression map  is available on the fire’s Inciweb site.

Two additional engines arrived on Saturday to support firefighters strengthening protection around key Old Faithful infrastructure. Crews finished the first phase of chipping at the water treatment plant and continued cutting timber around the cell tower. Work will continue on Sunday near an aboveground power line, substation, and park cabins. A park resource team finished an archeological survey in the Old Faithful developed area and will now focus on mapping sensitive riparian habitat and rare plants. This information will help the incident management team minimize impacts to these important natural resources.

Sunday is expected to be cooler and calmer with light winds. Colder temperatures and precipitation are expected to pass through the area on Monday before warmer and drier conditions return midweek. A brief article posted on the fire’s Inciweb site explains how influential weather can be on fire behavior. 

What’s Open:

• The Grand Loop Road and day use areas between Old Faithful and West Thumb Junction are open but may close at any time if fire activity increases.
• All entrances to Yellowstone are open. For up-to-date road information see the Current Conditions webpage, call (307) 344-2117 for a recorded message, or sign up to receive Yellowstone road alerts on your mobile phone by texting "82190" to 888-777.

What’s Closed:

• Trailheads on the Grand Loop Road between Old Faithful and West Thumb Junction remain closed to the public. This includes Howard Eaton, Lone Star, Divide, and DeLacy Creek trails. A Lone Star Fire Campsite and Trailhead Closure map is available.
• Many of the 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.

Fire activity in the western United States has created smoky conditions throughout the region. 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 remains very high; campfires in the backcountry are not allowed. Read more about backcountry fire restrictions in the Backcountry Situation Report.

Fire managers choose between a variety of strategies when suppressing wildfires. While managing fires can be complicated and challenging, the basic principles of fire are relatively simple. Fire needs three elements to ignite and continue to burn: oxygen, heat, and fuel. This is referred to as the fire triangle. 

Just like there is a fire triangle, there is another triangle for the factors that have the greatest influence on how the fire behaves once it ignites. Those factors, making up the fire behavior triangle, are weather, topography, and fuels.

Weather is perhaps the most variable factor in the fire behavior triangle, and it can quickly change. Fire teams closely monitor forecasts, noting the expected wind speeds and direction, humidity, temperatures, or possible precipitation and thunderstorms. Each morning, firefighters read a spot weather forecast for the area specific to where the fire is located. Throughout the day, additional weather is gathered in the field and transmitted via radio to all personnel working on the incident. Crews reply to acknowledge they’ve heard the latest weather reading and are aware of how it may affect the fire’s behavior for the reminder of their day’s shift. 

Photos of a field crew gathering weather data can be found on the Photographs tab of this Inciweb site.

To learn more about wildland fire behavior, visit the National Park Service’s Learning in Depth article at https://www.nps.gov/articles/wildland-fire-behavior.htm

Lori Iverson
Lone Star Fire Information 
 

 Acres: 850   
 Total Personnel: 42
 Cause: Lightning

The Lone Star Fire continues to hold heat but did not increase in acreage yesterday. The fire remains at 850 acres. A helicopter flight on Friday confirmed the most active portions of the fire are the southeastern flank and spot fires to the east and northeast. These areas will be monitored in upcoming flights. Closures remain in effect for nearby backcountry trails and campsites.

Firefighters continue fuel reduction work in developed areas along the Grand Loop Road from Old Faithful to West Thumb Junction. Yesterday, an engine crew removed trees close to the Old Faithful cell tower. Another crew worked at the water treatment plant, cutting and chipping trees in order to create a larger buffer around the structures. Today, some hazard trees near the road between Old Faithful and West Thumb Junction may be cut, causing short traffic delays.

The forecast calls for above average temperatures today. The warm temperatures and wind could lead to increased fire activity, making smoke visible this afternoon. A cold front is expected to pass through the area beginning Sunday morning. Weather will be increasingly unsettled in the coming week, with cold fronts alternating with periods of warmer and drier weather. The incident management team will adapt plans based on the variable weather and will monitor any resulting effects on the fire.

What’s Open:

• The Grand Loop Road between Old Faithful and West Thumb Junction is open but may close at any time if fire activity increases.
• All entrances to Yellowstone are open. For up-to-date road information see the Current Conditions webpage, call (307) 344-2117 for a recorded message, or sign up to receive Yellowstone road alerts on your mobile phone by texting "82190" to 888-777.

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.
• Trailheads and picnic areas 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.

Fire activity in the western United States has created smoky conditions throughout the region. 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 remains very high; campfires in the backcountry are not allowed. Read more about backcountry fire restrictions in the Backcountry Situation Report.

Acres: 850
Total Personnel: 39
Cause: Lightning

Due to reduced smoke along the route, Yellowstone National Park reopened Grand Loop Road between Old Faithful and West Thumb Junction Thursday morning. Weather is expected to be warmer and drier today through Saturday, August 29. Dispersed smoke may occasionally be visible from Old Faithful and West Thumb.

Recent thunderstorms brought more than 0.3 inches of wetting rains to the Lone Star Fire and minimized new activity. However, the fire is still holding heat in its interior and grew by 30 acres. Precipitation and higher humidities can decrease fire activity, but the Lone Star Fire may smolder for some time. It might resume more activity when drier and warmer conditions return.

Yesterday, a crew installed a rain gauge in unburned timber near Lone Star Geyser to measure future rainfall. Firefighters will continue fuels reduction planning in the park which will strengthen current and future responses to fires in the Old Faithful area. Today, crews will use a chipper to reduce vegetation near the water treatment plant and other critical infrastructure.

What’s Open:

• The Grand Loop Road between Old Faithful and West Thumb Junction is open but may close at any time if fire activity increases.
• All entrances to Yellowstone are open. For up-to-date road information see the Current Conditions webpage, call (307) 344-2117 for a recorded message, or sign up to receive Yellowstone road alerts on your mobile phone by texting "82190" to 888-777.

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.
• Trailheads and picnic areas 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.

Fire activity in the western United States has created smoky conditions throughout the region. 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 remains very high; campfires in the backcountry are not allowed. Read more about backcountry fire restrictions in the  Backcountry Situation Report.

Acres: 820
Total Personnel: 38
Containment: 0%
Cause: Lightning

Fire personnel continue to develop and implement a structure protection plan for the Old Faithful developed area, including communications and other utility infrastructure, visitor lodging and services, employee housing, and administrative buildings. This work will benefit not only the Lone Star Fire but future wildfire activity in the Old Faithful area.

Crews thinned vegetation around a microwave tower and outbuildings as well as a water treatment facility on Wednesday. A chipper will follow up in those areas, further reducing the size and subsequent flammability of the vegetation.

Tuesday night's infrared flight noted a large spot fire to the south of the main fire. That spot fire was later estimated to be three acres in size and was burning into the main body of the fire yesterday.

Overall, there was no significant growth in the fire on Wednesday; much of the activity was confined within the perimeter of the fire including single tree torching. Heavy rain and thunderstorms moved into the area Wednesday night. Firefighters will hike into the Howard Eaton and Shoshone Lake trails to observe fire behavior on the heel and northwest flank of the fire and note the effects of last night's precipitation.

What's Open

• The Grand Loop Road between Old Faithful and West Thumb Junction reopened Thursday morning. This section of road could close again if and/or when fire activity increases.
• All entrances to Yellowstone are open. For up-to-date road information see the Current Conditions webpage, call (307) 344-2117 for a recorded message, or sign up to receive Yellowstone road alerts on your mobile phone by texting "82190" to 888-777.

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.
• Trailheads and picnic areas on the Grand Loop Road between Old Faithful and West Thumb Junction remain closed to the public.

Fire activity in the western United States has created smoky conditions throughout the region. The nation is current 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 remains very high; campfires in the backcountry are not allowed. Read more about backcountry fire restrictions in the Backcountry Situation Report. 

The Grand Loop Road and day use areas between Old Faithful and West Thumb Junction are open to public traffic but may close at any time if fire activity increases.

Trailheads on the Grand Loop Road between Old Faithful and West Thumb Junction remain closed to the public. This includes Howard Eaton, Lone Star, Divide, and DeLacy Creek trails. 

Backcountry access to areas near the fire is still restricted. See the attached closure map below.