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Contact: Public Affairs Office, 307.739.3393
On the morning of July 4th, four Teton Interagency firefighters boated across Jackson Lake and hiked upslope to reach a location where lightning struck Thursday evening, July 3, and started a small fire. The Eagles Rest Fire is currently .25 acre in size and situated at 7,300 feet in elevation on the lower slope of Eagles Rest Peak, just off the westshore of Jackson Lake in Grand Teton National Park. Under the guidelines of Grand Teton National Park's Fire Management Plan, naturally caused fires can be managed for resource benefit under specified parameters, and allowed to play their natural role in the ecosystem. Due to several factors, including its location, the time of year, the fire danger rating and nationally available resources, Teton Interagency Fire managers determined that the Eagles Rest Fire will be monitored and managed for resource benefit. The Eagles Rest Fire lies within the park's recommended wilderness area. A boating party on Jackson Lake reported seeing the lightning strike and a wisp of smoke rising from the point of impact at 6:45 p.m. on July 3. Area residents and visitors are requested to report any fire or smoke by calling 911 or the Teton Interagency Dispatch Center at 307.739.3630. This makes the second lightning-caused fire in Grand Teton National Park in the past two weeks. The Stewart Fire is currently smoldering on the east flank of Static Peak, just north of Phelps Lake. This fire began during a thunderstorm on Sunday afternoon, June 22. The Stewart Draw Fire is still a .25 acre in size and creeping slowly through forest litter near the Douglas fir tree struck by the lightning bolt. Teton Interagency Fire managers remind local residents and park visitors that the fire danger rating for the greater Jackson Hole area is listed as moderate. As the July 4th weekend concludes, area visitors and local residents are reminded that fireworks are prohibited during any time of the year in Grand Teton National Park, on the Bridger-Teton National Forest and throughout Teton County, Wyoming. For more fire information, please visit www.tetonfires.com. |
Last updated: February 24, 2015