Yellowstone National Park’s 2022 wildfire season has begun

Gray Fire 

• A new wildland fire was detected Aug. 29 by a passing aircraft.  
• The 0.1-acre lightning-ignited Gray Fire is located about 1 mile east of the Fawn Pass Patrol Cabin, just south of the Fawn Pass Trail.  
• The park’s Helitack crew contained the fire. 
• No emergency closures are anticipated. 

• West Yellowstone Smokejumpers reported the first lightning-ignited wildfire of the year on the evening of Aug. 16. 
• The Telemark Fire is located west of U.S. Hwy 191 between mile markers 17 and 18 near a segment of the highway that runs through Yellowstone National Park. 
• The fire is approximately 10 feet by 10 feet in size and was burning in brush and timber. There were no open flames. 
• The fire was suppressed by a U.S. Forest Service engine crew out of the Hebgen Ranger District. Crews will monitor the area until it is deemed out. 
• Yellowstone thanks the crews from the Hebgen Ranger District and the Custer Gallatin National Forest for their continued support on fires through an interagency partnership. 

Obsidian Fire 

• The first fire of the season began as a vehicle fire in a parking lot at Old Faithful on July 20. Flames moved from the burning vehicle to the grass and burned a nearby pine tree.  
• The fire was under 0.1 acre in size and was suppressed and declared out on the same day.

Stay informed 

• The parkwide fire danger level for Yellowstone is HIGH. 
• Currently, there are no fire restrictions. However, park staff monitor conditions and may put restrictions in place if wildland fuels continue to dry out. 
• 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.